Important Information To Know About Liver Cancer

Prognosis

The outcome of liver cancer depends largely on the stage at which the cancer was caught, and from there what treatment options are available and recommended to the patient in question. Other factors include if the disease has metastasized to other parts of the body (and the extent of this as well as what other parts are affected), the size and number of tumors, and the health of the liver and surrounding abdominal tissues. According to the American Cancer Society, there is a fifteen percent average five-year survival rate for all stages of liver cancer. This number, however, varies among patients and the stage of their cancer.

Prevention Tips

While it's very difficult to prevent most cancers from developing in the body, it's possible for individuals to lower their risk of liver cancer by following some standard guidelines and prevention tips. The main focus they'll need to have to prevent liver cancer is to avoid being exposed to the known risk factors. For instance, the most notable risk factor associated with liver cancer is a chronic infection that has occurred from either hepatitis B or hepatitis C, which are typically spread via contaminated needles or unprotected sex.

Additional prevention tips to follow include limiting tobacco and alcohol use, losing excess weight, limiting exposure to harmful chemicals, and treating inherited diseases that can increase the risk of liver cancer. When an individual is obese, they are more likely to suffer from fatty liver disease or diabetes, both of which are linked to liver cancer. When individuals drink too much alcohol, they put themselves at risk of developing cirrhosis, which is a severe condition in the liver that may eventually turn into liver cancer.