Before we start making our New Year’s resolutions and celebrate a new beginning, an estimated 30,090 people will lose their lives to liver cancer by the end of 2025.
Liver cancer is a life-threatening disease that begins in the large internal organ located under your right ribs, known as the liver. Despite ongoing research into the causes of liver cancer and early detection methods, it still holds the title of being one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for more than 700,000 deaths every year.
But not all hope is lost.
October represents Liver Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the symptoms and risk factors associated with this condition, as well as how the latest technological advancements in healthcare may be the key to early detection and a better future.
Breaking Down the Basics: Your Liver and Liver Cancer
Located in the upper abdomen, just under your right ribs and beneath your right lung, lies the largest organ in your body: the liver. The liver is responsible for many vital functions throughout the body, including:
- Breaking down and storing nutrients absorbed by the intestines
- Delivering bile into the intestines to help the body break down and absorb nutrients
- Breaking down alcohol, drugs, and toxic wastes in the blood
- Creating most of the factors that allow your blood to clot when injured
Primary and Secondary Liver Cancer
Cancer in the liver develops when cells in the body begin to grow uncontrollably, resulting in a tumor. It is known as primary liver cancer, as it starts in the liver. Secondary liver cancer, on the other hand, is the result of cancer from another part of your body spreading to your liver. In this blog, we will focus on primary liver cancer.
There are three types of liver cancer: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Intrahepatic cancer (IHC), and Hepatic angiosarcoma.
HCC is the most common form of liver cancer and may begin as a tumor that progressively grows larger, or as small cancer nodules throughout the liver.
IHC accounts for approximately 10 to 20% of liver cancers. Starting in the cells that line the small bile ducts, this type of cancer is called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer.
The final type, hepatic angiosarcoma, is a very rare form of primary liver cancer that accounts for roughly 1% of all cases. This type begins in the lining of blood cells in your liver.
Risk Factors and Symptoms: Can You Protect Yourself from a Liver Cancer Prognosis?
The early stages of liver cancer often pass by without notice, making it all the more difficult to catch early on. As the cancer continues to grow, symptoms may begin to appear. The three types of liver cancer tend to produce similar symptoms, including:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Swollen abdomen
- A hard lump on the right side
- Pain near the right shoulder blade or in the back
- Jaundice
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unusual fatigue
Although it may go unnoticed in the early stages, recognizing your level of risk can help determine whether further action, such as a full-body MRI scan, would be a positive strategy for prevention and early detection.
Liver Cancer Risk Factors
Having a risk factor, or even many, does not always mean the chances of developing liver cancer are imminent. However, being aware of what could increase your chances provides you with the power and knowledge to decide how you move forward.
Risk factors of liver cancer may include the following:
- Chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
- Heavy alcohol use
- Tobacco use
- Obesity or being overweight
- Type 2 diabetes
- Foods that contain aflatoxin (a fungus that grows on improperly stored foods)
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Talk to your doctor if you feel you are at risk for developing liver cancer, and consider scheduling a whole body scan, which will not only provide a detailed MRI of the liver, but can also shed light on other abnormalities within your body.
Is Liver Cancer Curable?
While liver cancer is a treatable condition, it is not often met with ease. Treatment will depend on several factors, including the kind of cancer (primary or secondary), the type of cancer you have, where it is located, if it has spread to other areas of the body, and your overall health.
However, our goal is not to answer whether liver cancer is treatable – it’s to show you how to detect it early if you are at moderate to high risk for liver cancer.
At MRI Wellness, we strive to offer a proactive approach to healthcare, prioritizing early detection over treatment.
Our whole body scan machines screen for nearly 500 health conditions across 13 organ systems, including the liver. By producing a detailed liver MRI, our team can detect and explain abnormalities, allowing you to stay one step ahead of a diagnosis.
Don’t Become a Statistic – Let MRI Wellness Give You Peace of Mind
It’s easy to become lost in the statistics, but MRI Wellness believes that hope and peace of mind are only one scan away.
A full body scan is a painless, non-invasive means of helping those who present a high risk for certain conditions to gain peace of mind and regain control over their health.
Schedule your full-body MRI in Charleston, SC, and take the first step toward peace of mind today.
