A recent study has revealed that milk thistle contains an ingredient called Silymarin. The active biological ingredient present in silymarin i.e. silybin stops abnormal growth of the cancer cells with its anti-proliferate properties. According to some medical studies, milk thistle can offer protection to our liver from the toxic chemicals responsible for damaging the liver cells and causing cancer. Certain researches have also revealed that the herb is capable of controlling the signs of liver cancer and chemotherapy side effects. A study conducted on effects of milk thistle in patients in advanced stages of liver cancer showed that the herb helps in preventing spread of the cancer by blocking the damage caused to the patient’s DNA by the carcinogen.

The two primary active ingredients of milk thistle, silybin and silymarin possess antioxidant properties. This means these two agents offer protection to the liver cells against oxidative damages occurring due to the free radicals. This in turn reduces a person’s risk of developing cancer. A free radical is defined as an unstable oxygen molecule, which reacts with cellular components like cell membranes, DNA and proteins causing harmful genetic mutations. Most cancers including liver cancer results from these genetic mutations.

Although a number of medical studies have come out with conclusions supporting that milk thistle is beneficial for controlling liver cancer, FDA has not yet approved the medicinal uses of this herb.

Heating of cancer cells: During this procedure, the doctor will first stick 4 needles into the patient’s body. Then, using the ultrasound machine he will find the exact spots of the liver cancer tumors. The needles are then heated using electrical current. The heat is generated into the tumors through the needles and as a result the tumors get destroyed. The medical term used for this procedure is radiofrequency ablation.

Acupuncture and acupressure: An acupuncture of acupressure session’s main goal is offering complete relaxation by reducing the pain caused by cancerous tumors. Liver cancer patients are asked to undergo acupuncture or acupressure when they have little hope of recovering from the condition. In such cases the main aim of the physician is making life as much painless as possible for the patient. During acupuncture, needles are inserted through the pressure points of the patient’s body in order to induce pain relief. Acupressure therapy, on the other hand, involves application of pressure on those pressure points with a goal of offering complete pain relief.

Alcohol injection: After identifying the exact location of the liver cancer tumors using the ultrasound machine, the doctor injects pure alcohol into those tumors. Alcohol results in drying of the tumors, which leads to death of cancer cells. This liver cancer alternative treatment is not effective for all liver cancer patients; it is used mostly for treating patients in the early stages of the disease.

Astragalus:

This herb is used in Chinese medicine since centuries. Studies conducted on both human beings and animals have revealed that Astragalus helps in improving the strength of our immune system. This herb works by restoring the cell immunity in liver cancer patients. According to experts, the ideal way of consuming this herb is either as supplement or as tea. However, as this herb is known to cause severe blood clotting, you must not take it without asking the doctor. The eta Astragalus can be prepared by boiling 4oz of the herb in one quart water. As the taste of this herbal tea is not good, you can add lemon and honey to it while drinking.

Cinnamon:

Cinnamon is used as a remedy of a number of gastrointestinal disorders since the ancient times. In liver cancer patients, this herb helps in relieving the gastrointestinal conditions associate with the cancer. Cinnamon contains a healthy chemical known as catechins, which is known to reduce nausea like feelings, a common condition experienced by people with liver cancer. Prepare a tea by brewing 0.5 to 1gram of cinnamon in 150ml boiled water and drink it to times every day to get rid of digestive problems occurring due to liver cancer. Never forget to consult the doctor, before using this remedy.

Soy lecithin:

This is a herbal extract of soy plant. It contains an agent called phosphatidylcholine, which repaired the cell membranes of liver cells destroyed by liver cancer. Ask your doctor whether you can use this herbal remedy or not.

Stage 1 indicates that the liver cancer is a small tumor or growth confined to the liver area. This means it has not yet started to grow and has not yet affected any blood vessels or other areas.

In Stage 2 liver cancer may be a small tumor that has started to spread to local blood vessels. This stage may also consist of several small tumors within the liver.

Stage 3 may show that the liver contains multiple tumors that have grown in size or maybe even one large tumor. This stage may also show that the cancer has spread to infect the main veins within the liver or nearby organs and glands such as the gallbladder.

Stage 4 is the last of the liver cancer stages. In this stage the cancer has spread beyond the liver to other areas of the body.

The more advanced the stage of liver cancer the more the cancer has spread. As this disease spreads or advances the more difficult it becomes to treat. This is why early detection of liver cancer is so important. It is imperative that you seek medical counsel at the first showing of liver cancer symptoms. Some of the symptoms to be aware of include nausea, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, internal bleeding, pain in the upper part of the abdomen or around the right shoulder blade, changes in the color of urine or stool and jaundice or yellowing of the skin and white parts of the eyes. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should promptly seek medical attention in order to be tested for this deadly disease. Early detection is essential in receiving effective treatment.

In addition to the four stages of liver cancer there is another method of determining liver cancer stages. This method is called the TNM system and is based on the results of different tests that may be used to determine the extent of liver cancer present.

In the TNM system the T represents how many tumors are present as well as the size of the tumors and whether they have spread beyond the liver. The N indicates if the tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes and the M is used to determine if the cancer has spread to other organs in the body such as the lungs or kidneys.

In addition to these letters a series of numbers or letters may be used following the letter of indication. For example the numbers 0-4 may be used following the T indicating not only the size and number of tumors but also how severe the cancer is.

Early diagnosis of liver cancer is difficult due largely to the fact that in many cases this disease presents little or no symptoms in the early stages. However in the rare cases that symptoms are present you should pay attention to these symptoms and seek medical consultation. The survival rate of liver cancer is quite low because it is so difficult to detect this disease in early enough stages for treatment to be effective.

Some of the symptoms associated with liver cancer include nausea, internal bleeding, changes in the color of stool or urine, jaundice or  yellowing of the skin or eyes, pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen or right shoulder blade, loss of appetite,  unexplained weight loss and extreme weakness or fatigue.

There are several factors that will be considered in determining which liver cancer treatment will be most effective for each individual case. These factors include the size and location of the tumor as well as how advanced the cancer is. Other factors that will be considered are the age and general health of the individual in question. In addition to the factors used to consider which treatment option is best personal preference is also considered when possible. In some cases this may not be possible due to how advanced the cancer is.

Some of the available treatments for liver cancer may include one or more of the following options:

Surgery

There are two main types of surgery that may be used in treating liver cancer. In some cases when liver function is good and the tumors are small removal of the part of the liver containing the cancer may be removed. In other cases a liver transplant may be an option. This is where the entire liver is removed and replaced with a healthy one. This method is often used when cirrhosis or scarring of the liver has occurred.

Chemotherapy

This method consists of using drugs injected directly to the liver in order to destroy the cancerous cells.

Radiation Therapy

This method uses a machine to project powerful energy beams to the area where the cancer has been detected to shrink tumors and destroy cancer cells.

These are the most common used options for liver cancer treatment however there are others that may be used as well either alone or in combination with these. Some of these options may include freezing or heating the cancerous cells, alcohol injection directly to the liver and targeted drug therapy.

When cancer originates or begins in the liver this is known as primary liver cancer. However when this cancer starts somewhere else in the body and spreads or moves to the liver this is often referred to as metastatic liver cancer. This type of cancer can come from almost anywhere in the body although it is most likely to have come from areas close by such as the pancreas, colon or lungs.

There are many liver cancer signs and symptoms however many of these do not manifest or appear until the advanced stages of the disease. Some of these symptoms may include anemia, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes, internal bleeding, pain in the upper abdomen or right shoulder blade, fever, fatigue, weakness and changes in the color of stool or urine.

Although there are several different treatment options available whether or not they will be available or even effective depends on several things. Some such factors include the size and location of the tumors within the liver, the age and overall condition of the individual being treated and the stage of the cancer.

The specific causes of liver cancer are unknown however there are several factors that may play a part in the development of this disease. Some of these factors include age, cirrhosis or scarring of the liver, excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages, smoking, family history and even some hereditary liver diseases.

Because the liver cancer signs and symptoms are often not visible until the advanced stages this disease can often be difficult to treat. In some cases treatment is impossible for this reason. For this reason it is very important to see your family physician on a regular basis for screening and other tests as well as regular checkups. This is important because even though symptoms may not be present liver cancer may be detected at an earlier stage during this process. When this disease is detected in the early stages the chances of survival are increased whereas when it is not diagnosed until the advanced stages the rate of survival is often very low.

If you have or are showing any of the liver cancer signs and symptoms it is imperative that you seek the counsel of your family’s health care professional. Chances are if you are experiencing these symptoms then you are already beyond the earliest stages of liver cancer. The sooner this is diagnosed the better off you will be.

Once it has been determined that liver cancer is present and you have received an official diagnosis tests will then be performed to determine how advanced the cancer is and what areas are affected. This is called staging the disease. Once this has been done treatment options will then be discussed to decide which one will be most effective in your specific case.

Age and Gender

In most cases liver cancer is most common in older males, generally over the age of sixty years. It has been suggested that men are twice as likely to develop this cancer as women are.

Family History

If someone in your family has had liver cancer it is known to increase your chances of developing this disease yourself.

Heredity

Some liver disease that may be inherited from other family members such as parents or grandparents may increase the chances of developing liver cancer. Even some liver diseases that are not inherited from family members have been known to increase the risk of developing liver cancer. One such known liver disease is hepatitis. Hepatitis is often contracted through sharing dirty needles such as those used in drug abuse. There are three known types of hepatitis, A, B and C. While types B and C are known to increase the chances of developing liver cancer there is little or no evidence to suggest that type A increases this risk.

Smoking

Smoking is thought to increase the chances of developing almost any cancer and liver cancer is no exception.

Excessive Drinking

This can lead to the destruction of numerous blood cells and thus may cause cirrhosis of the liver in which the destroyed cells are replaced by scar tissue and the chances of contracting liver cancer are increased.

Size

It is suggested that being extremely overweight may be a factor in developing liver cancer.

Diabetes

Individuals with diabetes may be at a higher risk of being affected by liver cancer.

Although this is not a complete list of liver cancer causes, these are some of the most common factors that contribute to the development of this dangerous disease.

It is always a good idea to maintain regular visits with your doctor as well as routine physical examinations in order to detect not only liver cancer but other serious illnesses at the earliest possible stage. This is especially true if you are at an increased risk or possess any of the signs associated with any of the known liver cancer causes or risk factors.

Liver cancer is a serious disease with a low survival rate at the best of times. Early detection and diagnosis increases the chances of survival with this and any other disease. If you think you may be showing any of the symptoms associated with liver cancer it is important to see a health care professional at the earliest possible moment. Although in most cases symptoms are not present until the advanced stages it is helpful to know what these symptoms are. Some warning signs may include unexplained weight loss, anemia, internal bleeding, pain in the upper right part of the abdomen or the right shoulder blade, nausea and excessive fatigue.

Cancer of the liver can occur in two ways known as primary and secondary liver cancer. Primary liver cancer occurs when the liver is the original location of the liver. Secondary liver cancer also known as metastasized liver cancer occurs when the cancer begins somewhere other than the liver and spreads to the liver.

Anyone male or female can get liver cancer although it is more common in men. The liver cancer symptoms in women are much the same as that of men but may vary slightly in some cases. Some of these symptoms include anemia, anorexia, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, upset or gas filled stomach, pain located around the right shoulder blade, swollen abdomen or liver, fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes, internal bleeding, weakness, extreme fatigue, changes in the color of urine or bowel movements and ascites which is a buildup of fluid around the liver and intestines. In many cases these symptoms do not manifest until the advanced stages of liver cancer, however in a small amount of individuals they may be noticed sooner. Because the early stages of this cancer show little or no symptoms it is very hard to detect early thus making treatment difficult if not impossible. Some treatments are no longer available after liver cancer reaches a certain advanced stage. This is one of the reasons the survival rate for liver cancer is so low.

There are no specialized treatments available specifically for liver cancer symptoms in women. The same treatments are used regardless of a person’s gender although some symptoms may be limited to the female gender. This may be because some symptoms could show themselves in different ways in reference to how they affect a particular person.

Although the specific causes of liver cancer are unknown there are several factors that can increase the risk of developing this disease. Some of these factors include excessive amounts of alcohol consumption, recurring infections of hepatitis b and c, cirrhosis or scarring of the liver, age, smoking and certain hereditary liver diseases.

Even though liver cancer symptoms in women and men alike may not be present in the early stages of this disease there are tests that can be performed periodically to check for this cancer. It is important to have regular checkups including physical examinations on a regular basis in order to catch this and other problems at the earliest possible time. This is especially important if this type of cancer has affected someone in your family or if you are at an increased risk for developing liver cancer.

Secondary liver cancer is harder to treat than cancer that originates in the liver because it has spread from somewhere else which means that more cells have been affected by cancer thus there is a need to destroy or kill more cells to effectively treat the cancer.

The first step in treating any cancer is finding it and determining which type it is, primary or secondary. There are tests that your doctor can perform to determine this. The tests used to determine this are called imaging tests. These are tests that are used to look inside your body at the condition of different parts of your body. Imaging tests may include ultrasound, CT scans and MRI’s or magnetic resonance imaging. This allows doctors to see where the cancer is located as well as the point of origin and how many locations of the body are affected.

Once these tests have been performed and it has been determined that an individual is in fact affected by metastatic liver cancer it is necessary to determine how far advanced the disease has become. After this is done your doctor will discuss with you the different options available for treatment.

Unfortunately the survival rate for any type of liver cancer is low. However this increases in cases where the cancer is discovered relatively early and the tumor involved is not large. The longer a person has liver cancer without detection the lower the chances of survival become. This is because it is a fairly fast spreading cancer and can quickly affect many other areas of the body.

In many cases there are no symptoms present with secondary liver cancer, however when symptoms are present they may include anorexia, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, fever, sweats, pain in the upper abdomen area and nausea. If you experience any of these symptoms or any other unusual feelings it is important to seek the counsel of a medical care professional. The longer you wait the lower your chances for successful treatment.

There are treatments available for metastatic liver cancer however these treatments are dependent on several factors such as the condition of the individual, the origination of the cancer, how many tumors are affected, and how much the cancer has spread. As with any disease the longer you wait the worse it gets. Advanced stages of liver cancer are very difficult to treat and have a low survival rate. The sooner you can begin the treatment for this disease the better your chances are likely going to be.

The most common form of liver cancer in the United States is generally cancers that spread or metastasize from other areas of the body. These are cancers that begin somewhere else and move to the liver over a period of time. Primary liver cancer is cancer that begins in the liver and metastasizes to other areas.

Although anyone can develop liver cancer at any time some factors that may increase the risk of being affected by this disease include age, sex and certain inherited liver diseases. Liver cancer is most often found in older male adults. Other risk factors that increase this risk include excessive consumption of alcohol, diabetes, obesity and recurring hepatitis infections.

There are several liver cancer symptoms which may include unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, pain in the upper abdomen that may spread to the back and shoulder, nausea, vomiting, changes in metabolism, sudden weakness, retention of fluid, excessive fatigue, jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes and swollen liver, spleen or abdomen.

In many cases liver cancer is not diagnosed until the later stages because often the symptoms do not appear until that time. In the cases where symptoms are not present it is difficult to diagnose this cancer early because you may not know there is a problem.

There are three basis tests that your doctor may use to determine if you have liver cancer.

• Blood Tests

  In some cases blood tests may show that the liver is not functioning correctly.

• Imaging

  Certain tests that produce pictures such as ultrasound, CT scans, MRI or magnetic resonance imaging may be used.

• Biopsy

  This is where a sample of liver tissue is removed from the body usually by a needle and looked at under a microscope for abnormalities.

Once liver cancer has been diagnosed the next step is to determine how advanced the cancer is. This process is called staging the disease. Liver cancer consists of four stages and which treatment that may be recommended is largely dependent on which stage is present.

After liver cancer symptoms have been evaluated and liver cancer has been diagnosed and staged, treatment options will then be discussed by you and your doctor. It is very important that you seek the advice of a medical professional promptly upon noticing these symptoms as well as any other unusual symptoms you may be experiencing. The earlier liver cancer is detected the more likely the chances that the treatment will be effective. Aside from this, the further the disease progresses the less treatment options may be available. This is because as time passes some of these treatments may no longer be an option or may be ineffective.