The liver cancer is also known as the primary liver cancer and is the rare form of cancer (1% of all cancer) in the western world as compared to the Asian & African parts of the world where it is a common form (10 to 50% of all cancer). It is mainly diagnosed in the males and it is the type of disease which is rapidly fatal.

Types of cancer: The basic tumors of liver cancer are known with the name of hepatomas. The primary liver cancer that originates in the bile duct (produces bile juice used during the digestion of food) is known as cholangiomas. Rare type of liver cancers includes hepatoblastomas & Kupffer cell sarcoma which are exclusively in the children and are curable. Other form of cancer is the metastatic which is called so because it originates in other body part and get spread to the liver. It is 20 times more common than the primary cancer and the leading form of liver cancer due to which death occurs after cirrhosis.

Liver Cancer Symptoms: Liver cancer does not show any symptom in the early stages and it becomes prominent only when the cancer has advanced to the next stages. These can be

• A lump of mass in upper right side
• Weight loss,  fever, weakness (basically signs of cancer in early stage but as these are usual one doesn’t guarantees cancer)
• Yellowing of skin

Causes: the exact cause of disease in adult is very difficult to tell. It can be because of inhalation of carcinogens, which can be there in variety of ways in the present environment. The most common way is smoking either active or passive. It may be because of the weak immune system or because of hepatitis B virus. In case o children the cause is mainly the genetic problem.

Diagnosis: In presence of cirrhosis it is difficult. But image study like ultrasound or MRI with certain test can help. The liver biopsy will surely do the job along with electrolyte study which indicates the increased sodium.

Treatment: it depends on the type of cancer, age, health of person, personal preferences, etc. There are ways like surgery and drug based treatment. In surgery the tumor part is removed or the other form of surgery is liver transplant but it is for younger people with large size tumor. In drug base alcohol injection are given in tumor which dries up the cancerous cell which then eventually dies.