Liver Cancer

Liver cancer occurs when abnormal cell growth begins in the liver. Like most cancers, liver cancer in early stages usually doesn't cause symptoms. On advanced stages, the cancer will metastasize to other organs. Liver cancer is caused by smoking, drinking alcohol, diabetes, obesity, drugs, and hepatitis viruses. Liver cancer is rare, there are less than 200,000 US cases per year.
== Symptoms ==
The symptoms of liver cancer include:
*Weight loss
*Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
*Nausea and vomiting
*Loss of appetite
*Abdominal pain
*Itching
*Swollen abdomen
*Lump in abdomen
*Shoulder pain
*Fatigue and weakness
*Tiredness
== Causes and risk factors ==
Liver cancer is caused when abnormal cell growth begins in the liver, then at advanced stages, it metastasizes to other organs and parts of the body. Liver cancer has many risk factors. Risk factors for liver cancer include:
*Smoking
*Obesity
*Diabetes
*Drinking alcohol
*Drugs
*Hepatitis A virus
*Hepatitis B virus
*Hepatitis C virus
*Hepatitis E virus
*Liver fluke infection
*High grade dysplastic nodules
== Treatment ==
Treatment options for liver cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.
Category:Cancer
Category:Liver