The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. It breaks down drugs and toxins and produces important proteins. The liver also produces bile, which helps eliminate waste products and process fats. A cancer is an abnormal group of cells that grows more rapidly than normal and grows out of control.
Liver cancer is called primary if the tumor starts from cells of the liver.
Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare tumor developing in bile duct cells. Secondary liver cancer is 20 times more common than primary liver cancer. A secondary liver tumor may not be found until it causes symptoms. Liver cancer occurs more frequently in people with hepatitis B, cirrhosis, and other chronic liver ailments, than in those without these diseases. This cancer is more likely to occur in men than women and in people over 40 years old.