Key Points:
Liver cancer and bile duct cancer are the top-ranking cancers in Thailand, with liver cancer being the number one cancer in men and the third most common cancer in women. More than 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, resulting in approximately 15,000 deaths annually. It is important to note that liver cancer is not solely caused by alcohol consumption, but also by viruses and fungi found in certain foods such as nuts and dried chilies. Individuals with abnormalities should seek medical attention, and those at higher risk should undergo cancer screenings. Liver cancer has five different stages.
Chuwit’s Battle with Liver Cancer
Chuwit, who revealed he is in the third stage of liver cancer, anticipates living for about eight more months. Liver cancer is the leading cancer in men, and in Thailand, it is the most prevalent cancer overall. Liver and bile duct cancer were reported as the number one cancer in men and the third most common in women, according to the Thai Cancer Registry in 2018. There were 22,213 new cases of liver cancer reported that year, with 15,650 resulting in fatalities (Cancer in Thailand Vol.X (2016-2018) National Cancer Institute and Public Health Statistics, 2021).
The two most common types of liver cancer in Thailand are hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatobiliary duct cancer, primarily found in the northeastern and northern regions of the country.
Risk Factors and Screening Recommendations
There are several significant risk factors associated with liver cancer, including chronic infections with hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. Approximately 75-80% of liver cancer cases occur in individuals infected with hepatitis, with 50-55% attributed to hepatitis B and 25-30% to hepatitis C. Individuals with cirrhosis, excessive alcohol consumption, or exposure to aflatoxin, which is commonly found in foods such as beans and corn, are also at higher risk.
It is essential for certain risk groups to undergo regular screening for liver cancer:
- Males and females with cirrhosis, as the annual incidence of liver cancer is as high as 1-4% in this population.
- Individuals with chronic hepatitis B, especially men over 45 years and women over 50 years of age or those with a family history of liver cancer.
- Patients with chronic hepatitis C, including those who have been successfully treated.
Warning Signs of Liver Cancer
Each liver cancer patient may experience different symptoms, and early stages of the disease typically do not present noticeable symptoms. Common signs include loss of appetite, abdominal distension, frequent flatulence, fatigue, weight loss, and ascites. Patients may also experience pain or stiffness in the right ribs, abdominal lumps, jaundice, swollen stomach, and leg edema. These symptoms should prompt individuals to seek medical advice and undergo diagnostic tests such as liver function tests, alpha-fetoprotein level assays, ultrasound examinations, or computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
Treatment and Prevention
Liver cancer treatment options depend on various factors and should be determined by healthcare professionals. Treatment possibilities include surgery, direct injection of cancer drugs for early-stage cancer, chemotherapy or arterial blocking injections, and the use of pharmaceuticals to alleviate symptoms.
Prevention strategies for liver cancer include vaccinating newborns against hepatitis B, avoiding raw freshwater fish consumption, adopting a healthy lifestyle and diet, and eliminating carcinogenic foods like those contaminated with aflatoxin or containing saltpeter. Additional prevention measures include quitting smoking, abstaining from alcohol, avoiding betel nut chewing, and engaging in regular exercise.
If there is a suspicion of liver cancer risk, individuals with a history of hepatitis or chronic cholangitis should consult a doctor and undergo regular cancer screenings. Early detection and timely treatment can significantly enhance outcomes and reduce mortality rates associated with liver and bile duct cancer.
References:
Shaki Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health
Songkhla Nakarin Hospital Faculty of Medicine
Phayathai Hospital
Key points:
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Liver cancer in Thai men is the number 1 patient.
In Thailand, liver and bile duct cancer is the number 1 cancer in men and number 3 in women, according to the Thai Cancer Registry in 2018. There were 22,213 new liver cancer patients / year, and there were deaths of them. 15,650 lives/year (Cancer in Thailand Vol.X (2016-2018) National Cancer Institute and Public Health Statistics, 2021)
There are 2 types of liver cancer that are most common in Thailand: hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatobiliary duct cancer. It is mainly found in the North East and North.
Factors – people at risk of liver cancer
Most cases of liver cancer are carriers of the hepatitis B virus. As for the case of bile duct cancer, it is caused by liver flukes along with eating foods containing saltpeter (nitrate) and nitrite, such as pla ra, pla chom, som naem fish, etc.
important risk factors and risk groups that should be screened for liver cancer are:
1. Hepatitis Most 75-80% of liver cancer cases occur in patients infected with hepatitis. 50-55% of them are infected with hepatitis B virus and 25-30% are infected with hepatitis C virus.Hepatitis BThe risk of developing liver cancer is 100-400 times higher than non-carriers.
2. have cirrhosis
3. Alcohol Studies have shown that drinking 41-80 grams of alcohol per day increases the risk of liver cancer 1.5 times.
Those who drank more than 80 grams of alcohol per day had a 7.3 times higher risk compared to non-drinkers or those who drank less than 40 grams of alcohol per day.
4. Aflatoxin Aflatoxin is caused by certain types of fungi. Found in foods such as beans, corn, dry chili, etc., those found to have aflatoxin The risk of liver cancer will be 5.0-9.1 times compared to those who do not find the substance in the body.
Risk groups that should be screened
1. Female and male cirrhotic patients The incidence of liver cancer is as high as 1-4% per year.
2. Patients with chronic hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus. or those infected with hepatitis B since birth or childhood and no cirrhosis But there is a high risk of developing liver cancer in men over 45 and women over 50 age or have a family history of liver cancer.
3. Chronic hepatitis C patients Including patients who have been cured.
Warning signs of liver cancer
Every liver cancer patient can show different symptoms. Generally, there are no symptoms in the early stages.
The most common symptoms were anorexia, abdominal distension, frequent flatulence, fatigue, weight loss, and ascites. Pain or stiffness in the right ribs A lump can be found in the abdomen. yellow body, yellow eyes, swollen stomach, swelling in both legs, etc.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor. to receive diagnostic tests, such as blood tests to look at liver function abnormalities Assay alpha-fetoprotein level ultrasound to look at the lumps in the liver computed tomography or magnetic resonance examination, etc.
liver cancer treatment
liver cancer It can be divided into 5 steps as follows
Stage 1: Cancer is a single small tumor, no more than a centimeter in size 2. If it is detected at this stage, you can feel comfortable because it is not difficult to treat.
Stage 2: no more than 3 cancerous tumors, less than 3 centimeters in size, a completely curable stage
stage 3 multiple cancerous masses The size is larger than stage 2 cancer, Chuwit was ill. in this range, as revealed by the person
Stage 4 The cancerous mass is very large. spread to tissues near the liver or into the veins in the stomach or to the lymph nodes near the liver or spread through the bloodstream Including spread to other organs At this stage, surgery is required.
Stage 5 is the stage where the patient’s health deteriorates greatly. Sleeping in bed most of the time The liver will work very poorly.
There are several treatments for hepatobiliary cancer, which need to be evaluated by a medical professional to suit each patient. As there are many factors to consider.
1. Surgery
2. Direct injection of cancer drugs in patients with early stage cancer
3. Injections of chemotherapy or blocked substances into the arteries to feed the cancer
4. Use of chemical drugs Most of them are treatments to relieve symptoms.
How to prevent liver cancer
Hepatitis B vaccination in all newborns do not eat raw freshwater fish Modify lifestyle and health behavior Eat the right diet according to nutritional principles. Avoid foods that contain carcinogens, such as foods that may be contaminated with aflatoxin. food containing saltpeter and fermented foods stop smoking stop drinking alcohol stop chewing betel nut regular exercise, etc.
If liver cancer risk is suspected, a doctor should be consulted for a diagnosis. Especially patients with a history of hepatitis or chronic cholangitis. You should have regular cancer screenings. It will help to get timely treatment and reduce the death rate from liver cancer or bile duct cancer.
refer to:
Shaki Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health
Songkhla Nakarin Hospital Faculty of Medicine
Phayathai Hospital
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