What is the best way to treat primary liver cancer? What are the symptoms of liver cancer?

Due to its high malignancy, rapid progression, difficulty in treatment and short survival period, liver cancer has become the "king of cancers" that seriously threatens human health and life. The prognosis of liver cancer depends on whether it can be detected early and treated actively.

What are the symptoms of liver cancer?

1. Early liver cancer often manifests as fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, etc.: low or moderate fever caused by tumor necrosis or tumor metabolites, more obvious in the afternoon. Loss of appetite, indigestion, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, etc. caused by liver damage or abnormal tumor metabolism. Some patients may also have abdominal masses. Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that grows relatively fast. Its growth can enlarge the liver. Patients may find hard masses in their upper abdomen or right upper abdomen.

2. Jaundice, splenomegaly, ascites, edema, spider nevi, etc. are also symptoms of early liver cancer. Jaundice refers to yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin. This is caused by the tumor invading the normal liver, causing liver function abnormalities, or the tumor compressing the bile duct in the liver.

3. Experts say that when liver cancer reaches the late stage, it can cause adverse reactions in the digestive tract, generally manifested as decreased appetite, upper abdominal fullness after meals, or even nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. What are the symptoms of liver cancer in the late stage? Digestive tract symptoms are often caused by pathological changes in the liver, resulting in increased pressure in the portal vein system and digestive tract dysfunction; or by enlarged tumors compressing or involving the stomach.

4. Some patients with advanced liver cancer may also experience symptoms such as pain in the liver area, which is generally caused by the rapid growth of the tumor, which increases the tension of the liver capsule, or the tumor involves the liver capsule. It is considered the first symptom of advanced liver cancer. The pain is mostly located in the right ribs or under the xiphoid process, and is mostly intermittent or continuous dull pain or stabbing pain at the beginning. The pain may be mild or severe or relieve itself within a period of time, or even disappear. The pain is mostly obvious at night, and sometimes analgesics are required. If the tumor is located at the top of the diaphragm of the right lobe of the liver, the pain can often radiate to the right shoulder or right back; if the tumor is located in the left lobe of the liver, distension and pain in the upper abdomen will appear earlier; when the tumor is located deep in the substance of the right lobe of the liver, pain is generally rare.

How is primary liver cancer treated?

1. Surgical treatment: The preferred treatment for primary liver cancer is surgical treatment. The specific procedure depends on individual circumstances. Some people are suitable for radical liver resection, while others are suitable for palliative liver resection.

2. Treatment of unresectable liver cancer

Liver cancer cannot be removed, and treatment becomes more difficult. To control the condition, patients can choose laser therapy, radiofrequency therapy, and microwave therapy to treat the disease.

3. Chemotherapy

If liver cancer cannot be removed, regional chemoembolization can be performed through the hepatic artery. After palliative liver cancer resection, regional chemoembolization can be performed through portal vein pump placement. More serious patients can also undergo radiological interventional treatment, during which embolic agents are injected and then chemoembolization is performed.

4. Radiation therapy

Radiotherapy can be used for patients with mild disease and good liver function. Radiotherapy can also be used for patients without hypersplenism and cirrhosis. Radiotherapy can also be used for patients who are not suitable for surgical resection. Radiotherapy has many indications and better efficacy.

5. Biological therapy

Commonly used drugs include interferon, interleukin-2, etc. During treatment, it can be used in combination with chemotherapy or alone.

6. Treatment with traditional Chinese medicine

Although traditional Chinese medicine can alleviate symptoms, it takes a long time to take effect, so it needs to be used in combination with other therapies. To alleviate symptoms, patients should also exercise appropriately to improve their body's resistance to disease.

“Two Early” improves efficacy: Two Early prevention and treatment of liver cancer mostly refers to early prevention and early diagnosis.

Clinical practice has shown that the treatment effects of small liver cancer with a diameter of less than 3 cm and advanced liver cancer are completely different. Advanced liver cancer is often accompanied by intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis, which cannot be surgically removed, and interventional embolization and drug treatment are difficult to be effective. However, for small liver cancer diagnosed early, surgical resection, embolization, ablation and other treatment methods are all good.

Early prevention is to avoid the spread of hepatitis, avoid liver damage caused by alcohol, drugs, etc., and prevent or alleviate the progression of liver fibrosis to the greatest extent.