Li­ver can­cer

In Switzerland, around 800 people are diagnosed with liver cancer every year, which is around 2% of all cancers. Three quarters of patients are men, one quarter women. Liver cancer mainly affects older people: 46% of patients are 50 to 69 years old at the time of diagnosis, 50% are 70 years or older.

The liver is located on the right side of the body under the ribs in the abdominal cavity. The liver is indispensable for the organism's metabolism and serves as a "detoxification organ", among other things. Liver cancer originates from the liver cells (hepatocytes).

Liver metastases, i.e. offshoots of other tumours in the liver, are much more common than actual liver cancer, which originates from the liver cells. Liver metastases usually originate from bowel, stomach, lung or breast cancer.

The risk factors for liver cirrhosis are excessive alcohol consumption and/or a chronic viral infection of the liver (hepatitis B or C). You can be vaccinated against hepatitis B - the vaccination reduces the risk of developing liver cancer as a result of chronic hepatitis B.

Liver cancer only causes symptoms at an advanced stage of the disease. Possible non-specific, general symptoms are

• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite, nausea, persistent fever
• Physical weakness, reduced performance
  Possible late symptoms
• Yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Increasing abdominal girth
• Palpable swelling under the ribs on the right
• vomiting of blood
• mental disturbances, apathy

In more than 80% of cases, liver cancer develops due to liver cirrhosis, the chronic destruction of liver tissue.

The liver is visualised for diagnosis, for example using ultrasound or computer tomography. A biopsy can also be carried out.

For example, the affected part of the liver is surgically removed for treatment. If the cancer has not yet metastasised, the entire liver can be removed in certain patients and replaced with the liver of an organ donor.