Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that begins to grow in the liver. Some type of cancer may develop outside the liver and eventually spread to the liver, but only liver cancer starts in the liver. The liver is one of the largest organs of the human body and is located below the right lung and under the ribcage. The liver helps the body to get rid of toxins, among other functions.

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Symptoms of Liver Cancer
It is mostly when the liver cancer gets to an advanced stage that the signs and symptoms of liver cancer becomes noticeable. Symptoms of liver cancer include:

Abdominal pain
Jaundice
Nausea and/or vomiting
Unexplained weight loss
Fever
Body itching
Enlarged liver
Fatigue
Back pain

Stages of Liver Cancer
The stages or phases of liver cancer helps the doctor to decide the treatment course. There are four stages of liver cancer:

Stage I:In this stage, the tumor is in the liver and hasn’t spread to another organ.
Stage II:There are several small tumors that all remain in the liver, or one tumor that has spread to a blood vessel.
Stage III:For this stage, there are several large tumors or one tumor that has spread to the main blood vessels, and may have reached the gallbladder.
Stage IV:The cancer has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body).
The doctor immediately begins treatment once the stage has been established.

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Causes of Liver Cancer
It isn’t exactly known what causes liver cancer. However, most cases are linked to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). People with hepatitis B and C have a higher possibility of developing liver cancer since both forms of the disease can lead to cirrhosis.

Risk Factors
Risk factors for developing liver cancer include:

Type 2 diabetes: Diabetics are more likely to develop liver cancer, especially if they also have hepatitis, or drink alcohol excessively.

Family history: A family relative with liver cancer can also increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.

Heavy alcohol use: One of the top causes of cirrhosis globally is consuming alcohol regularly and excessively.

Exposure to aflatoxins: Getting exposed to aflatoxins over a long period of time increases risk of liver cancer. Aflatoxin is a substance made by a fungus. It can be found in moldy wheat, groundnuts, corn, nuts, soybeans, and peanuts.

Weakened immune system: People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS have a higher risk of liver cancer.

Obesity: Being obese or overweight increases the risk of developing many cancers, including liver cancer.

Gender: The chances of people developing liver cancer is not totally dependent on gender but on lifestyle choices. Though more males get liver cancer compared to females, this is because more males tend to smoke and drink alcohol more than females.

Smoking: People with hepatitis B or C have a higher risk of liver cancer if they smoke.

Arsenic: People who consume water from ground wells that contain naturally-occurring levels of the toxin arsenic, may in the long run have a considerably higher risk of developing several conditions or diseases, including liver cancer.

If your chances of developing liver cancer is higher, go for regular screening. If not diagnosed on time, liver cancer may become more difficult to cure. So, early screening is vital for detecting liver cancer since there is mostly little or no symptom to indicate the presence of the disease.

Diagnosis of Liver Cancer
A person’s chances of surviving liver cancer is greater with early diagnosis. Your doctor will ask questions about medical history to rule out any potential risk factors. Then a physical examination will be conducted to check for any engorgement in the abdomen and any yellow coloring in the whites of the eyes.

If liver cancer is suspected, your doctor will run further tests, including:

Blood tests:These checks how the blood clots, check levels of other substances in the blood and measure the proportions of red and white blood cells and platelets.
Tests for viral hepatitis: This helps to check for the presence of hepatitis B and C.
Imaging scans:These include a MRI or CT scan that helps show the size and spread of the cancer.
Biopsy:This is taking a small tumor tissue for examination to reveal whether the tumor is cancerous or non-cancerous.
Laparoscopy: This is a surgical procedure performed under general or local anesthetic. It involves inserting a long, flexible tube with a camera attached is inserted through the abdomen, to allow the doctor to examine the liver and surrounding area.
Once the type, location, and stage of liver cancer has been established through series of tests and examinations, your doctor will be able to decide the possibility of treating the disease safely.

Treatment
Early-stage liver cancer that can be treated will only require surgery to completely remove the tumors, leading to a chance of full recovery. Surgical options include the following:

Partial hepatectomy

This procedure is carried out when the tumor is small, such that only the part affected by the tumor is extracted. Partial hepatectomy is mostly used for people with healthy liver function. This procedure is often not an option because the cancer has spread to other parts of the liver or other organs in the body.

Liver transplant

Candidates for a liver transplant cannot have a tumor larger than 5 cm or several tumors larger than 3 cm. The risk of the cancer returning is too great to justify a procedure as risky as a transplant if the tumor is larger than this.

The risk of cancer returning is reduced, and the normal function of the liver can be restored.

Treating incurable tumors
The survival rate of advanced liver cancer is very low. Though steps can be taken to treat symptoms and slow the progression of the tumor. These includes ablation therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Preventing Liver Cancer
Preventing the onset of a disease is far better than curing or treating it. Liver cancer mostly has a low survival rate. Steps should be taken to reduce the risk of liver cancer. Liver cancer cannot be completely prevented, but there are measures to help reduce the risk. They include:

Moderate alcohol intake:Drinking alcohol in excess amount for a prolonged period of time can the risk of cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Drink moderately or quit completely to reduce your risk of developing the disease.
Limit or avoid tobacco use.
Go for Hepatitis B vaccination
Promptly treat underlying conditions
Avoid unprotected sex
Maintain a healthy body weight

Source: http://healthdiary365.com/liver-cancer-symptoms-types-causes-diagnosis-and-treatment/