Liver Cancer FAQs

Although liver cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the world, it is uncommon in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates 28,720 people will be diagnosed with liver cancer this year, and numbers have been rising by approximately 3-3.6% each year since 1992. Approximately 20,550 deaths will occur, with incidence and death rates both being higher in men than in women.

The numbers are not encouraging. Liver cancer is not discussed as often as some other cancers, possibly because the death rates are so high and 5 year survival rates tend to be low (approximately 14%). But that doesn't mean there are no prevention steps that could (and should) be taken in order to decrease one's risk. The numbers mean it's even more important to know your risks, the symptoms, and what you can do to prevent it.

In the United States, alcohol-related cirrhosis, and possibly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with obesity, account for the majority of liver cancer cases. In fact, colorectal, breast, and many other cancers list obesity as a risk factor.

Cancer of the liver that did not originate there is not called liver cancer. It is the result of a metastasis of cancer from another part of the body such as the colon or ovaries, and is named after the first, or "primary" site.

Unfortunately, screening has not been proven to improve survival in liver cancer, so being familiar with signs and symptoms are especially important. Common symptoms include:

• Losing weight without trying
• Loss of appetite
• Upper abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• General weakness and fatigue
• An enlarged liver (occurs in 50%-90% of patients)
• Abdominal swelling
• Yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• White, chalky stools

More information on liver cancer, and what you can do to reduce your risk, can be found at the Mayo Clinic website.

Thyroid Cancer Basics

The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that sits in the neck just below the adam's apple. It regulates hormones and, for the most part, isn't noticed until it stops working correctly. Between 2004 and 2008, there were 1,045 cases of thyroid cancer reported in the state of Arkansas, just over 7 cases per 100,000 people. In 2012, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be 56,460 new cases diagnosed in the United States. As you can see, it's not a common form of cancer.

It is also a cancer that is typically diagnosed early (68% of cases are diagnosed in an early stage), which means it is more easily treated and a full recovery is more likely. Symptoms are fairly easy to spot. The most common symptom is a lump (nodule) in the neck that an individual may notice themselvs, or that may be found by a doctor during a routine physical exam. Although most lumps found in the thyroid gland are not cancerous, any abnormality found should be brought to the attention of your medical provider.

Other symptoms can include:

• Tight or full feeling in the neck;
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing;
• Hoarseness or a loss of voice;
• Pain the throat or neck that doesn't go away.

Aside from the visual indications, other tests that can be used to evaluate thyroid nodules are blood tests to determine levels of hormones related to normal functions of the gland, medical imaging such as ultrasound and CT scans to evaluate size and characteristics of the nodule and nearby lymph nodes, and a biopsy to determine if cells in the nodule are benign or malignant.

There are a few risk factors for thyroid cancer, most of which are difficult to avoid. They include being female, having a history of goiter (enlarged thyroid) or thyroid nodules, having a family history of thyroid cancer, and radiation exposure related to medical treatment during childhood or other radiation exposure. Unlike other adult cancers, thyroid cancer risk does not increase with age. In fact, 80% of new thyroid cancer diagnoses are made in people under the age of 65.

For more information on thyroid cancer, you can visit these websites:
Endocrine Web
Mayo Clinic
National Cancer Institute

Cancer Screening is Key!

This month we're talking about cancer prevention and things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer. One of the most important components to any prevention regimen is knowing your risk level based on your own habits and family history and if you have an increased level of risk, getting screened regularly.

It's widely known that catching any kind of cancer in earlier stages usually provides a patient with a better prognosis, but for some types of cancer research shows that conducting certain screening tests regularly can  actually reduce deaths from that cancer. These types are breast, cervical and colorectal cancer. This is why regular gynecological exams for women, mammograms for women over 40 and colonoscopies for anyone over the age of 50 are recommended by physicians. But know the symptoms of breast and colorectal cancers and talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any of them, regardless of your age.

For other types of cancer, screenings are being used, but the effect on the number of deaths is still being studied. However, even without a definitive study result, screenings for these kinds of cancers are recommended. These types include lung and prostate cancer, and many skin cancers. More information on screening methods for these cancers and others can be found at the National Cancer Institute website.

At Hope Cancer Resources we strive to make cancer education a priority in our community. We have professionals on our staff who manage prevention and screening programs and work to get the information that can save lives into the hands of people who need it. Our Save-A-Life program provides financial assistance for screening and diagnostic tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate and skin cancers, providing access to early detection and offering a better chance for a cure. We also conduct free screenings several times a year. To find out more about the screenings we provide and the schedule for 2011, contact our Healthcare Navigator, Chuck Parker.

Your risk for contracting some types of cancer can depend heavily on your hereditary risk. If a close family member was diagnosed with one of these types, your risk could be increased. Fortunately, thanks to decades of research being conducted around the world, there are now tests available to measure this risk linked to heredity. Consultation is available with our Cancer Education Specialist, Sandy Prince, to discuss hereditary risk factors for pertinent cancers.

The bottom line is KNOW YOUR RISK. Just as the Boyscouts have said for generations - Be Prepared. If you know your own risk for particular kinds of cancer, change the habits that could increase that risk, and get regular screenings and health check ups, you will be doing a lot to reduce your odds for developing cancer. Right now, 2 out of 3 adults will deal with some kind of cancer in their lifetime - let's change that together.