Liver Cancer
There are many types of liver cancer: The ones developed in the liver are called primary liver cancers, and the ones coming from other parts of the body are called metastatic liver cancers. Most liver cancers are the ones originating from other body parts. Hepatoma cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma cancer and angiosarcoma are the primary cancers, and metastatic cancers come principally from the lungs, colon, breast, stomach and pancreas. Lymphomas are another cancer that may develop in the liver. There are a multitude of symptoms for the vaious types of liver cancer, but some are difficult to detect and in many cases the cancer that has spread to the liver is the first indication of cancer that is evident.
The treatment varies for the many types of cancer, but the prognosis is usually poor because of the late identification of the disease and the advanced stage of the cancer. Treatment for most cancers originating in the liver are not usually beneficial. The patient lives only a few months if the cancer is well advanced at the time of discovery; however, if the cancer is discovered earliy, it may be removed by surgery which could give a lengthy term of survival. There are many options for metastatic liver cancers which the doctor can discuss with the patient. Some drugs may be helpful in shrinking the tumor but do not necessarily provide a cure. There are many occasions where surgery may be advisable under the doctor's direction.
