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Liver Cancer Diagnosis: What You Need To Know
Liver Cancer: Diagnosis
Diagnosing liver cancer involves several steps. First, your doctor asks about symptoms. They want to know specifics. How long have you felt unwell? What type of discomfort do you experience?
Next comes the physical exam. Your doctor checks for signs of liver disease. This includes abnormal swelling or lumps in your abdomen.
Then, we move on to diagnostic tests. These are tools that provide more information about your health condition.
Three key diagnostic tests exist:
- Blood Tests - Doctors look for abnormal levels of certain substances.
- Imaging Tests - Ultrasounds, CT scans and MRI help visualize the liver.
- Biopsies - A small sample of liver tissue is removed and examined under a microscope.
Each test plays a crucial role in diagnosis process.
The final step is staging the cancer if it's present—determining how far it has spread within the body.
Remember, early detection increases treatment options and improves outcomes significantly! Don't ignore persistent symptoms; seek medical help promptly.
Physical Examination for HCC
Physical Examination for HCC
A physical exam is an essential first step in diagnosing Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), also known as liver cancer. During this check-up, your doctor looks for any physical signs of the disease.
Abdominal Exam: One focus is your belly area. The doctor checks if it's swollen or tender to touch. They may feel a lump on your right side, where the liver resides.
Skin and Eyes Check: Your skin and eyes can show signs too. Look out for yellowing, a condition called jaundice. It happens when the liver isn't working well.
Everyone should know their body's normal state to spot changes early on. Regular self-checks complement professional exams well.
Remember, symptoms don’t always appear until later stages of HCC; regular medical check-ups are very important if you're at risk due to factors like chronic hepatitis B or C infection or cirrhosis of the liver.
Ultrasound and CT Scan
An ultrasound uses sound waves to create images. It is safe, non-invasive, and painless. A device called a transducer sends high-frequency sound waves into your body. The waves bounce back after hitting an object like tissue or an organ. The computer then interprets these echoes to produce a real-time image on a screen.
A CT scan, short for Computed Tomography, employs X-rays in creating detailed pictures of your body's internals - organs, blood vessels, bones etc. Unlike ultrasound that offers real-time imaging, CT scans provide cross-sectional views through ‘slices’ of the human anatomy – almost like looking at one end of a loaf of bread slices stacked together!
Both methods assist in diagnosing diseases and monitoring treatments progressions but their applications vary depending on what needs visualizing inside your body.
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MRI and Angiogram Usage
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and angiograms are diagnostic tools. They help doctors see what's happening inside your body without surgery. An MRI uses magnets and radio waves to capture detailed images of your organs and tissues. An angiogram uses X-rays and a special dye to show blood vessels.
MRIs can identify many conditions, including tumors or damage from an injury or stroke. Doctors also use them for imaging the brain, spine, joints, abdomen, blood vessels, heart and other parts of the body. It's safe for most people but not recommended if you have certain implants like pacemakers.
On the other hand, angiograms focus on blood flow issues. They spot blockages in arteries that might cause heart attacks or strokes. Angiograms are also critical in planning surgeries such as bypass grafts or stents placement.
Both tests don't hurt but may feel uncomfortable due to lying still in enclosed spaces for MRIs or a small incision for angiograms. Always remember: it’s best to discuss any concerns with your healthcare team beforehand!
Laparoscopy and Biopsy Procedure
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure using a tube with a camera, called a laparoscope. Surgeons make small incisions in the abdomen to insert the laparoscope. This lets them view inside your body in real time without open surgery.
A biopsy happens during or after laparoscopy sometimes. It involves taking small samples of tissue for testing under a microscope. The reason? To check for disease or other medical conditions.
To prepare, you fast (no food or drink) before these procedures. Your doctor explains specific instructions based on your health history and the purpose of the procedure.
Afterwards, recovery varies between individuals and depends on what was done during surgery. You might feel sore around where surgeons made incisions - that's normal! Full recovery often takes one to two weeks.
Remember: Ask questions if you're unsure about anything related to your care plan!
Staging of Liver Cancer
Staging of liver cancer is crucial. It tells doctors how far the disease has spread. There are several systems for staging.
The TNM system is common. "T" stands for tumor size, "N" tells if cancer has reached the lymph nodes, and "M" shows if it's spread to other body parts. Stages range from 1 (small tumors) to 4 (advanced cancer).
Another system is the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage classification. This considers tumor size, number and location, as well as liver function and overall health status.
Understanding your stage helps guide treatment options. Remember: you can ask your doctor any question about this topic.
Types of Liver Cancer
First is Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This form begins in the main cells of your liver, hepatocytes. It represents about 75% of all liver cancers worldwide.
Next is Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) or bile duct cancer. Here, cancer starts in the small tubes that carry bile to the gallbladder. It makes up approximately 10-15% of liver cancers.
Lastly, we have Metastatic liver cancer which originates from another organ and spreads to your liver later on. This is more common than primary liver cancers.
Each case varies greatly depending on individual factors such as age, overall health status, and type of liver disease present if any.