According to recent studies, African Americans are showing increased incidences of liver cancer when compared to other ethnicities. It’s also been shown that African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of liver cancer.
Health professionals have suggested that the late diagnoses may be linked to the difference in screening test results.
To make things worse, African Americans who get diagnosed with advanced liver cancer have higher mortality rates than other ethnicities. When considering this information, it’s essential for you to know the common symptoms of advanced liver cancer and how it can be treated.
Typical Symptoms of Advanced Liver Cancer
As with several types of cancer, the symptoms of liver cancer become more pronounced at the advanced stage. These symptoms include:
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- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling extremely full after eating a regular meal
- Pain in the stomach or the right shoulder
- Sudden or constant fever
- Unexplained weight loss
- Yellowing in the skin and eyes
- Swelling in the stomach
- Signs of unusual bruising or bleeding
If the tumors have spread, there may also be changes throughout the body. That’s why you should contact your doctor as soon as you notice any new issues with how your body operates.
Persons at Risk For Liver Cancer
While anyone can develop liver cancer, some persons are more at risk than others. According to medical professionals, the following persons should pay close attention to changes in their health:
- Persons who are over the age of 60
- Males
- Persons who have been diagnosed with viral hepatitis
- Persons with cirrhosis of the liver
- Persons who have been diagnosed with diabetes
- Persons with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Those who are obese
- Persons who have been exposed to environmental factors such as aflatoxin from mold
As might be expected, the more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop liver cancer. Working on minimizing your risk where possible can go a long in reducing the likelihood of liver cancer.
Diagnosis of Advanced Liver Cancer
Advanced liver cancer is defined as the stage where cancer has spread to the lymph nodes that are close to the liver as well as nearby blood vessels or organs. It’s not often that the tumors spread to distant organs but when it does, the growths can be found in the lungs and bones.
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The medical terms used to describe the specific type of liver cancer you have will include the size of the original tumor, whether or not the tumors have spread to other organs, and if there are growths on the nearby lymph nodes.
To diagnose advanced liver cancer, your doctor will need to perform blood tests, imaging tests, and sampling of the liver tissue (biopsy). The blood tests will determine any abnormalities in the blood while the imaging tests will show the size and location of the tumors. The cells that are taken during a liver biopsy will be examined under a microscope. The state of the cells is integral to diagnosing the stage of cancer.
Treatment Options for Advanced Liver Cancer
At an advanced stage of liver cancer, surgery is not usually an option because the tumors have spread to other parts of the body.
Treating advanced liver cancer can be further complicated by decreased liver function as well as the compromised function of other organs. Persons who still have appreciable liver function may be treated using targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
For those whose liver function has been compromised, immunotherapy may be the preferred treatment option. That’s because this method encourages the body’s immune system to attack the tumors. Alternatively, localized treatments could also be used as they are applied directly to the point of the tumor.
Being diagnosed with advanced liver cancer doesn’t mean that it’s time to give up. There are effective treatment options out there for you to consider. Of course, it’s always best to get an early diagnosis so the condition can be addressed quickly. If you think you could be at risk for liver cancer, consult with your doctor as soon as possible.
