by Henrylito D. Tacio
Liver cancer is the fourth common cancer that strikes Filipinos – after breast, lung and colorectal. Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men and the fifth among women.
Currently, liver cancer snatches the lives of 20 Filipinos a day. If nothing is done soon to decrease the cases, the number of deaths due to the disease will double twenty years from now, according to Dr. Samuel So of Stanford’s Asian Liver Center, whose projection was based on latest estimates of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) for the Philippines.
Not all cancers that affect the liver are considered liver cancer. “Cancer that begins in another area of the body — such as the colon, lung or breast — and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic cancer rather than liver cancer,” Mayo Clinic explains. “And this type of cancer is named after the organ in which it began — such as metastatic colon cancer to describe cancer that begins in the colon and spreads to the liver.”
One of the reasons why liver cancer is deadly is because people don’t know they have the disease. Liver cancer develops ominously, often presenting no symptoms at all. By the time symptoms appear, it is already too late and the outlook for recovery is bleak.
The Mayo Clinic says that when signs and symptoms do appear, they may include the following: losing weight without trying, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, general weakness and fatigue, abdominal swelling, yellow discoloration of skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice) and white, chalky stools.
If you experience any signs or symptoms that worry you, make an appointment immediately with your doctor, the Mayo Clinic advises. Forewarned, so goes a familiar saying, is forearmed.
Despite the advancement of medical science, it is still vague as to what causes liver cancer. But several studies point out to infection due to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) as the main culprit as it accounts for 53% of primary liver cancer cases globally.
The HBV may be found in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and saliva. It is transmitted the same way as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). That is, through sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, or anal), use of contaminated needles, unsafe blood transfusion, and from mother to child.
“Generally, hepatitis B is a mild, self-limiting infection,” wrote Dr. Eduardo Gonzales in his Manila Bulletin column. “In about 10% of cases, however, the body’s defenses are unable to eliminate the virus and chronic hepatitis B ensues. Over time, chronic hepatitis B gives rise to cirrhosis or severe scarring of the liver.
Exposure to aflatoxins is another cause. “Aflatoxins are poisons produced by molds that grow on crops that are stored poorly,” the Mayo Clinic explains. “Crops such as grains (corn for one) and nuts (particularly peanuts), can become contaminated with aflatoxins, which can end up in foods made of these products.”
Another possible cause is the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, particularly non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Most people with simple fatty liver don’t undergo sickness related to the liver. Those with NASH, however, have inflammation and injury to their liver cells.
“This increases the risk of progression to more serious conditions like scarring of the liver, cirrhosis, and liver cancer,” writes Dr. Wynne Armand, Harvard Health Publishing’s contributing editor of the Harvard Medical School.
Without treatment, most liver cancer patients die within a year of diagnosis. “The five-year survival rate for the disease, if no treatment is undertaken, is less than five percent,” Dr. Gonzales wrote. “But even with treatment, it is still a low 35 percent.”
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so goes another familiar saying. “Liver cancer is highly fatal but it is preventable because its major risk factors are already known,” Dr. Gonzales wrote.
The Mayo Clinic recommends the following prevention tips:
Get vaccinated against hepatitis B. You reduce your risk of hepatitis B by receiving the hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine can be given to almost anyone, including infants, older adults and those with compromised immune systems.
Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain it by choosing a healthy diet and exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, reduce the number of calories you eat each day and increase the amount of exercise you do. Aim to lose weight slowly – half to one kilogram each week.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink. For women, this means no more than one drink a day. For men, this means no more than two drinks a day.
The website of Medicard Philippines also recommends the following:
Watch out for certain medicines. Some drugs can occasionally have a side effect that causes liver problems.
Be careful with herbs and dietary supplements. Some can harm your liver. Choose wisely which to take.
Don’t touch or breathe in toxins. Some cleaning products, aerosol products, and insecticides have chemicals that can damage your liver. Avoid direct contact with them. Additives in cigarettes can also damage your liver, so don’t smoke.
Drink coffee. Research shows that it can lower your risk of getting liver disease. No one knows why this is so, but it’s worth keeping an eye on as more research is done. – ###
