It is important to actively participate in screening programs to detect early breast, colon, uterine and prostate cancer. Often patients with liver disease focus all their attention on the liver and forget that other problems not related to the liver may develop. Regular mammograms, rectal exams, pap smears, prostate checks and colon exams may be life-saving if they detect a cancer early on. Liver cancer is always a concern in patients with cirrhosis, regular monitoring, often every 6 to 12 months is needed and should be carried out by your primary care physician or the liver specialist. There is no need to be on a special diet unless the liver disease is very advanced and complications have occurred.
People live many years with cirrhosis and without complications.
By being an informed patient, you can increase your chances of being one of them. For You Eating fish is generally considered a healthful thing to do, but the pleasure of a tasty seafood dinner may turn to disaster if the seafood or fish is contaminated with toxins. Methyl mercury poisoning can occur from eating fish that have accumulated this toxic substance in their bodies. Each year about 6,000 tons of mercury are released into the atmosphere as a result of natural changes in the Earth's surface. Add to this another 3,000 tons produced by burning fuel and household wastes, and you have an excessive amount of mercury that blankets the land and water.