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Cirrhosis
Can early-stage cirrhosis cancer be cured?
Whether early-stage liver cirrhosis cancer can be cured depends on a detailed analysis of the specific situation. Firstly, if a patient with early-stage liver cirrhosis develops cancer, it is crucial to promptly combine the patient’s physical condition with aggressive surgical treatment. The specific surgical approach and procedure are determined by clinical doctors. Moreover, for patients with early-stage cancer, targeted etiological treatment should be administered. For instance, if the early-stage liver cancer is caused by alcoholic liver cirrhosis, active intervention is necessary. If it is due to viral hepatitis, such as chronic hepatitis B leading to liver cirrhosis and progressing to early-stage cancer, active antiviral treatment is required.
Is it serious if someone with cirrhosis doesn't have bowel movements?
Cirrhosis without bowel movements does not necessarily mean that the condition is very severe. Patients with cirrhosis who have no bowel movements might be experiencing poor digestion, leading to slow intestinal movements and subsequently constipation. However, constipation can potentially trigger hepatic encephalopathy, thus it requires proactive treatment. Oral lactulose can be used for bowel movement, or an enema with white vinegar to acidify the intestines can also be administered. Patients with cirrhosis who develop hepatic encephalopathy, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, or primary peritonitis are experiencing severe conditions and need to actively undergo corresponding treatment measures. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can severe cirrhosis be cured?
Severe cirrhosis is understood to refer to the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, which is the later stage of the condition, primarily characterized by the hardening of the liver. Additionally, it presents a series of bodily complications such as ascites, as well as esophageal and gastric varices caused by portal hypertension. Sometimes, because of these varices, accidental rupture can occur during eating, leading to severe bleeding, which is a major upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage — a very dangerous complication. If this bleeding is not controlled, it can become life-threatening. Moreover, the skin may display spider nevi, and palmar erythema can appear on the hands; these are common manifestations and complications during the decompensated phase of cirrhosis. Thus, cirrhosis is not curable. Treatment focuses on symptomatic relief to minimize discomfort caused by the symptoms, but the disease itself cannot be cured.
Do I need to take liver-protective medicine in the early stages of cirrhosis?
As for whether it is still necessary to take liver-protective medication in the early stages of cirrhosis, it depends on whether there is liver function impairment in patients with early-stage cirrhosis. If there is liver function impairment, such as elevated transaminases and bilirubin, then it is necessary to take some liver-protective medications. If liver function is normal, then it is sufficient to treat only the cause of the disease. For example, if cirrhosis is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection, but the patient's liver function is normal, then antiviral treatment alone is sufficient. If the cirrhosis is due to alcohol abuse, then strict abstinence from alcohol is required, and the condition can generally be stabilized.
Why does cirrhosis cause increasing weight loss and what can be done about it?
The reason why patients with cirrhosis are becoming thinner might be due to the decreased protein synthesis function of the liver after cirrhosis, leading to progressively lesser protein in the body, which results in the patient becoming thinner. It could also be because cirrhosis leads to poor digestion and absorption in patients, thereby reducing their absorption capacity and causing them to lose weight. Under these circumstances, some medications can be used for treatment, such as the infusion of albumin to supplement plasma proteins in the body. It is also important to actively treat the underlying cause of cirrhosis. For example, in the case of alcoholic cirrhosis, active efforts to abstain from alcohol and rehabilitative treatment are necessary. If the cirrhosis is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection, antiviral treatment should be administered.
Is the pain obvious in the early stages of cirrhosis?
In the early stages of cirrhosis, the pain is not very obvious. Patients in the early stages of cirrhosis may experience vague discomfort in the upper right abdomen, while others may never experience pain at all. Those in the early stages may also have symptoms such as belching, fatigue, acid reflux, jaundice, and dark urine. Further comprehensive auxiliary examinations are needed, such as liver function tests and abdominal imaging studies. At the same time, it is important to identify the cause of early-stage cirrhosis in patients as soon as possible and adopt appropriate treatment measures based on different causes. For instance, if it is caused by alcohol, then treatment should involve abstaining from alcohol.
Is early-stage cirrhosis treatable?
Whether early symptoms of cirrhosis can be treated depends on the cause of the cirrhosis. If the cause of the cirrhosis is clear and can be effectively suppressed, then the early symptoms of cirrhosis can be effectively treated. For example, if the cirrhosis is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection, then the use of antiviral drugs such as entecavir, tenofovir, and adefovir can effectively control the further development of cirrhosis. However, if the cirrhosis is caused by autoimmune liver diseases or cholestatic liver cirrhosis, the treatment might not be as effective, because there are no specifically effective treatments available for these diseases. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician)
What should I do if cirrhosis causes general weakness?
Liver cirrhosis can lead to general weakness due to electrolyte disorders or severe liver function impairment, causing the symptoms mentioned above. Once general weakness occurs, it is necessary to go to the hospital for comprehensive auxiliary examinations, such as liver function tests, routine blood tests, and electrolyte tests. Additionally, imaging studies of the abdomen should be performed to determine whether conditions like ascites, anemia, or hyponatremia exist. Different treatments are administered based on different disease diagnoses. For instance, if the weakness is due to severe ascites causing dilutional hyponatremia, sodium supplementation might be necessary, along with appropriate ascites drainage.
Do people with cirrhosis and their family members need to use separate bowls and chopsticks when eating?
Patients with cirrhosis and their family members do not necessarily have to use separate bowls and chopsticks when eating. The causes of cirrhosis include infectious and non-infectious cirrhosis. Among infectious cirrhosis, some are transmitted through blood and others through fecal-oral transmission. Only diseases transmitted via the fecal-oral route require separate bowls and chopsticks, such as hepatitis A and hepatitis E. These types require separation from family members during meals. However, hepatitis B, or some non-infectious types such as alcoholic hepatitis, do not require the use of separate eating utensils.
What causes stomach pain in the early stages of cirrhosis?
Early stages of cirrhosis may present with stomach pain, likely due to erosion in the stomach caused by the cirrhosis. It is recommended to promptly complete a gastroscopy to rule out the presence of portal hypertensive gastropathy or esophagogastric varices, while also testing for Helicobacter pylori infection. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment should be based on the underlying cause. Consider using proton pump inhibitors to suppress stomach acid secretion, or using antacids like aluminum magnesium carbonate to protect the stomach lining. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)