Which is more treatable, primary liver cancer or metastatic liver cancer?

Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Primary liver cancer refers to malignant tumors that originate in the liver, while metastatic liver cancer refers to malignant tumors from other parts of the body that have spread to the liver. As to which is easier to treat, it is generally difficult to determine and depends on the control of the primary lesion in cases of metastatic liver cancer; both might be challenging to treat. However, if the lesion in primary liver cancer is relatively small, there may still be an opportunity for surgical treatment. In general, metastatic liver cancer is not amenable to curative surgery because the primary lesion also requires treatment. But in terms of the rate of progression or severity, metastatic liver cancer might progress more slowly, while primary liver cancer generally progresses quite rapidly, making it also very difficult to treat.

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Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
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Does primary liver cancer have a genetic basis?

Primary liver cancer is generally not certain to be hereditary, but it may be somewhat related to genetics. For example, there are often phenomena of family and regional clustering of liver cancer. Current research believes that primary liver cancer, commonly referred to as liver cancer, is the result of a combination of factors, closely associated with hepatitis virus infection, aflatoxin infection, and contaminated drinking water. Common scenarios include hepatitis B virus infection leading to hepatitis B followed by cirrhosis, which can further develop into primary liver cancer. Also, long-term alcohol abuse leading to alcoholic cirrhosis can also result in liver cancer.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Is the right shoulder pain from liver cancer muscular pain?

Many cancer patients do not exhibit obvious symptoms after becoming ill. This is particularly true for many liver cancer patients who do not feel anything unusual after contracting the disease, leading to a lack of timely detection and treatment. By the time they are diagnosed, the disease has often already reached an advanced stage. At this advanced stage, treatment becomes quite difficult. If a patient experiences severe pain in the right shoulder, it generally indicates that the liver cancer has reached a late stage. The pain during this period has no specific characteristics; it is simply a sensation of pain.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Can liver calcifications be liver cancer?

Calcification in the liver is not liver cancer. For internal liver calcifications, it is described in ultrasonography and CT scans as a benign lesion, not as liver cancer. Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that can be life-threatening, thus it is considered a serious condition. When calcification is present, it is not indicative of liver cancer, but regular follow-up ultrasounds are still needed to monitor changes in size dynamically. If the calcification increases significantly in size over a short period and grows rapidly, malignant transformation should be suspected, and surgery should be conducted as soon as possible to improve the prognosis for the patient. Additionally, for liver cancer patients, it is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce inflammatory stimulation, which is more conducive to the recovery of the condition.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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How to rule out liver cancer when experiencing right shoulder pain?

Some liver cancer patients may experience abdominal pain that radiates to the shoulder and back, resulting in right shoulder pain. Therefore, when a patient presents with right shoulder pain, to rule out the possibility of liver cancer, some laboratory tests or radiological examinations can be conducted, and if necessary, histopathological examinations can also be performed. If hematological examination does not show an abnormal increase in AFP levels, and radiological examinations do not reveal any abnormal liver conditions such as large masses, nodular tumors, or diffuse liver lesions, and there is no history of hepatitis or cirrhosis, it is generally possible to rule out right shoulder pain caused by liver cancer. To determine the exact cause of the pain, examinations such as X-rays of the right shoulder, CT scans, and if necessary, MRI or bone scans can be conducted to exclude right shoulder pain caused by liver cancer lesions.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can hepatitis B lead to liver cancer?

Hepatitis B can cause chronic infection in the body, which may damage liver cells and potentially lead to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Therefore, in cases of hepatitis B virus infection, it is necessary to regularly check liver function and hepatitis B virus DNA. If abnormal transaminase levels are found, timely liver-protective and enzyme-lowering treatments should be administered. If the hepatitis B virus DNA reaches a certain level, antiviral treatment should be initiated to potentially slow the progression of hepatitis B developing into liver cirrhosis or even liver cancer. Additionally, carriers of the hepatitis B virus or patients with hepatitis B should take care to rest adequately, avoid excessive fatigue and staying up late, abstain from alcohol, and maintain a light, digestible diet.