Blue Faery :: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association : Hepatocellular Carcinoma

For Patients

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Description
According to the National Cancer Institute, Hepatocellular Carcinoma is the 4th most common cancer in the world. It is also known as HCC, hepatoma, primary liver cell carcinoma, or primary liver cancer. HCC is cancer that arises from hepatocytes, the major cell type of the liver. HCC accounts for 84% of all liver cancers. The causes of HCC include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, aflatoxin exposure, cirrhosis and hemochromatosis.

Symptoms
Symptoms include abdominal pain or tenderness (particularly in the right-upper quadrant), an enlarged abdomen, bloating, decreased appetite, nausea, unexplained weight loss and unexplained fevers. Jaundice and swelling of the legs occur in more advanced liver cancer. Many patients with HCC do not develop symptoms until the advanced stages of the tumor.

Signs and Tests

A physical examination shows an enlarged, tender liver.

An abdominal CT scan reveals a mass in the liver.

A liver scan indicates an abnormality.

A liver function test indicates that liver enzymes are elevated.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein is elevated.

A liver biopsy shows Hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Stages of HCC

Stage I The tumor is any size but does not invade blood vessels.

Stage II There is a single tumor (any size) that does invade blood vessels, or there are several tumors, and all are less than 5 cm in diameter.

Stage IIIA There are several tumors, and at least one is larger than 5 cm in diameter, or a tumor invades a branch of the major liver blood vessels (portal vein or hepatic vein).

Stage IIIB A tumor invades a nearby organ (other than the gallbladder) or a tumor has penetrated the lining of the liver.

Stage IIIC The cancer has invaded nearby lymph nodes. (Tumors can be any size or number.)

Stage IV The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, i.e. the lungs, bones, etc. (Tumors can be any size or number, and nearby lymph nodes may or may not be involved.)

Stage I	The tumor is any size but does not invade blood vessels.
Stage II	There is a single tumor (any size) that does invade blood vessels, or there are several tumors, and all are less than 5 cm in diameter.
Stage IIIA	There are several tumors, and at least one is larger than 5 cm in diameter, or a tumor invades a branch of the major liver blood vessels (portal vein or hepatic vein).
Stage IIIB	A tumor invades a nearby organ (other than the gallbladder) or a tumor has penetrated the lining of the liver.
Stage IIIC	The cancer has invaded nearby lymph nodes. (Tumors can be any size or number.)
Stage IV	The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, i.e. the lungs, bones, etc. (Tumors can be any size or number, and nearby lymph nodes may or may not be involved.)