The incidence of cancer in Korea is increasing every year due to genetic factors such as family history, as well as an irregular lifestyle and western eating habits.
Medical college professors, who are considered Korea’s best authorities in the field of cancer treatment, were interviewed in detail about how to prevent cancer (early detection), as well as precautions that patients who have received cancer treatment and their families take care of them.
The series includes 10 cancers, including thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer, which have the highest incidence in Korea.
▶ For patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver, regular examinations such as abdominal ultrasound every 3 to 6 months are important
As in the case of the liver, known as a ‘silent organ’, liver cancer often shows no symptoms.
According to a study conducted by Samsung Seoul Hospital on the symptoms of 3,353 patients treated for liver cancer (Scan J Gastroenterol 2018 Jun;53(6):727-733), only 5% of stage 1 liver cancer had symptoms at that time. diagnosis.
Liver cancer often does not show symptoms in the early stages, but sometimes complains of non-specific symptoms such as right upper quadrant pain, weight loss, and abdominal mass.
Because of this, experts advise that it is important for patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver who are at high risk of developing liver cancer to have regular checkups every 3 to 6 months.
Han Ho-seong, professor of surgery at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, said, “Hepatitis B and C patients over 30 years old, healthy patients, liver cirrhosis patients, family history of liver cancer, and chronic liver disease patients over 30 years old. years old having an abdominal ultrasound and blood tests (measurement of alpha-phytoprotein in the blood). ), it is desirable to have an examination every 3 to 6 months.”
Professor Han Ho-seong said, “For liver cancer, those who regularly receive two tests, abdominal ultrasound and serum fetal protein test, are more likely to detect liver cancer early.”
▶ Liver resection, liver embolization, and chemotherapy depending on the size of the tumor
Liver cancer treatment is divided into curative treatment, which removes the tumor completely, and non-curative treatment, which stops tumor progression and reduces its size.
When liver cancer is detected early, three curative treatments are performed with the aim of curing it: liver resection, liver transplantation, and local therapy (alcohol injection, radiofrequency heat therapy, etc.).
When liver cancer is diagnosed in an advanced state and curative treatment cannot be applied, curative treatment is performed to prevent tumor progression and reduce the size by hepatic artery chemoembolization, radiation therapy, and systemic chemotherapy.
Liver resection is one of the most important methods of treating liver cancer, and with recent advances in surgical techniques, laparoscopic resection can be performed in most cases, and the quality of life after surgery is also better than in the past.
However, since liver cancer mainly occurs in patients with chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis, surgery is performed for patients who can maintain residual liver function, that is, liver function after surgery.
Compared to other treatments, liver transplantation has the advantage of being possible even in cases of poor liver function, but it also has the disadvantage of requiring a liver donor.
Embolization is a procedure that finds blood vessels that supply blood to the liver cancer through blood vessels, blocks the blood that supplies blood to the liver cancer (embolization), and inserts anticancer drugs that causes cancer necrosis.
Shin Dong-hyeon, professor of gastroenterology at Seoul Samsung Hospital, said, “Embolization has the great advantage of being able to operate on both small and large multiple cancers. .”
Systemic anticancer therapy is a rapidly developing area of liver cancer treatment. In the past, cytotoxic anticancer agents that cause nonspecific cell necrosis have been widely used, but recently, agents targeted anticancer that attack specific targets (targeted therapy) or immune anticancer agents such as Keytruda Therapies based on them are introduced into clinical practice.
▶ It is important to eat a balanced diet after surgery… Thorough management of the underlying liver disease is also required
In the case of liver cancer, surgery can temporarily reduce liver function.
Experts advise that patients undergoing liver cancer treatment should eat a balanced diet before and after treatment.
A balanced diet means eating a balanced intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, vegetables, etc., and avoiding eating too much of certain nutrients.
Professor Han Ho-seong said, “Liver cancer treatment may increase the need for nutrients or reduce the amount of food due to side effects and complications, which may lead to poor nutritional status.” “Maintaining and recovering the patient’s nutritional status, In order to increase the therapeutic effect, it is necessary to take a variety of nutrients and enough nutrients that are suitable for the individual.”
In particular, one must be careful to misuse and abuse folk medicines, and adequate consultation with the medical staff in charge when taking medicines for other diseases.
When the liver is resected, depending on the type of operation, abdominal discomfort may occur during the process of liver regeneration or liver rehabilitation, and temporary ascites may occur.
There is a high risk of recurrence of liver cancer after surgery.
Because of this, if you have underlying liver disease, it is good to manage it thoroughly accordingly.
Professor Shin Dong-hyun said, “If you have alcoholic liver disease, you should refrain from drinking, and if you have fatty liver disease, you should control your fatty liver with proper exercise and diet to reduce the risk of happen again.” therapy, etc.) are being investigated, but Immuncell (Immunecell LC) is the only method yet to be proven effective.”
Although liver cancer is not a hereditary disease, it has been reported that patients with hepatitis B are at increased risk of developing liver cancer if there is a family history of liver cancer.
Professor Han Ho-seong explained, “Hepatitis B virus, which is the most important cause of liver cancer in Korea, is transmitted from mother to baby at birth, and hepatitis B virus infection within the family increase the risk of liver cancer in other cases. family members.” he did.
▶ Avoiding alcohol and drinking coffee ‘helps’ prevent liver cancer
To reduce the risk of liver cancer, abstinence is the most important, and drinking coffee properly is one way.
Alcohol is dangerous enough to be classified as a first-class carcinogen by the WHO, and excessive drinking causes cirrhosis of the liver, which can progress to liver cancer.
In addition, mold toxin (aflatoxin), a toxin produced by mold in grain, is known as a liver cancer carcinogen.
Coffee is the only food with medical evidence that can reduce the risk of liver cancer.
Professor Shin Dong-hyun explained, “Because coffee can affect not only the liver but also other bodies, drinking too much coffee for the purpose of preventing liver cancer is not recommended.
If you are obese or have a lot of body fat, the risk of developing liver cancer is approximately twice as high as a normal weight.’
It is known that when body fat increases, the secretion of various hormones (insulin, estrogen, etc.) from body fat also increases, leading to insulin resistance, which triggers an inflammatory response and accelerates the carcinogenesis process.
