What are the key facts of Liver Cancer and what are its treatments?

 

The liver is the largest organ of the body next to the skin which is located under the right ribs and beneath the right. It continuously filters blood throughout the body and converts the nutrients and drugs absorbed from the digestive tract into forms that can be readily used by the body. Apart from this liver performs numerous other functions like the removal of toxins, waste products from the blood, etc. As the organ filters the blood from all over the body, it is exposed to cancer cells easily. The liver can be affected by primary cancer cells that arise in the liver or secondary cells that originated elsewhere which is called metastatic liver cancer. Metastatic liver cancer is the most common.

Liver cancer treatment options

The liver cancer treatment option chosen depends on how much have the cancer spread and the general health of the patient.

Surgery: surgical removal of a tumor in the liver is reserved for smaller sizes of the tumor. The complications might include bleeding, infection, pneumonia, and the side effects of anesthesia. Liver transplant is also considered in the case of small inoperable liver tumors in patients with severe cirrhosis.

Ablation therapy: destroying the cancer cells using heat, laser, or by injecting special alcohol or drug directly into cancer.

Embolization: embolization is the procedure of blocking the blood supply to the cancerous cell. This employs a catheter to inject beads or particles that block the blood vessel that feeds cancer. It is often used in patients with large liver cancer for palliation.

Radiation therapy: this technique uses high-energy rays directed at cancer and destroys them. As normal liver cells are also susceptible to radiation, it is accompanied by complications like skin irritation, fatigue, and nausea.

Various other liver cancer treatment procedures open are chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and palliative care.

Bottom line

Liver cancer treatment has various options and the best-suited treatment is decided based on various factors like health, stage, location, etc. by the oncologist.

5 Warning Signs Of Appendix

 

Appendicitis is not a condition that can be surely pointed out. The similarity of its symptoms with a couple of other ailments makes it difficult for people to diagnose. Although only 5% of people get appendicitis, it is essential to know that it can go as far as organ rupture. This is why it is important to know the five warning signs of the appendix:

 

1. Nausea

 

This is the most basic symptom of appendicitis. The way to determine whether you need appendix treatment starts with you suspecting it and going to your doctor's office for a diagnosis. Nausea for long may happen because of the appendix, and it should not be ignored. 

 

1. Loss of appetite

 

The appendix can affect the GI tract, which can also result in loss of appetite. If your willingness to eat or capacity to eat decreases suddenly, it might be time to visit a doctor for your appendix and get the necessary appendix treatment.

 

1. Increased need to void the bladder

 

The appendix is positioned close to the bladder. Any inflammation in the appendix can result in pressure on the bladder. This can make people feel like they need to use the washroom more than they usually do.

 

1. Feverish shivers

 

Stomach 

pain, combined with fever and shivering, is the most prominent indicator of the appendix. If you are experiencing this, it might be time to get a doctor's appointment.

 

1. Disorientation

 

Disorientation for getting dizzy might be a result of appendicitis. It takes a lot of oxygen from the bloodstream, leaving a smaller amount for the brain. It needs immediate attention and proper appendix treatment. 

 

These are five of the most critical signs of appendix problems everyone should look out for. If you are experiencing one or more of them, it is better to get checked early than to suffer pain in the long run.

Signs That You Need To Go For Laparoscopic Surgery

 

Laparoscopy is a low-risk, minimally invasive modern surgical procedure that has a short recovery rate. It is the go-to method used by doctors to ascertain that a patient is doing well if tests and diagnostic results are inconclusive. But who needs a laparoscopy? Well, this post will explore the answer to this particular question! Read on to know more!

 

Laparoscopy, otherwise known as laparoscopic surgery or simply diagnostic laparoscopy, is a modern surgical procedure that is used by doctors to examine the organs inside the abdominal cavity of a patient. The recovery period for this type of surgery is very short. Furthermore, it is minimally invasive as the doctor only needs to make small incisions on the target area of the patient’s abdominal cavity.

 

Laparoscopic surgery is performed after the patient is rendered unconscious using general anesthesia. Most of the time, the patient will be released from the hospital on the same day but in case the surgery is performed to take out gall-bladder stones then the patient might be kept under observation for at least 4 – 5 days.

 

Most of the time, laparoscopy proves to be a beneficial tool for doctors to diagnose the abdominal problems of patients when the issue cannot be revealed via common diagnostic imaging techniques such as – 

• Ultrasound
• CT scan or
• An MRI scan.

 

Laparoscopy is also performed to take a biopsy (a sample of tissue) from a particular organ within the abdominal cavity that the doctor is suspicious about. A doctor will recommend laparoscopy when it comes to close examination of organs within the abdominal cavity like:

• Appendix
• Gallbladder
• Liver
• Pancreas
• Small intestine and large intestine (otherwise known as the colon)
• Spleen
• Stomach
• Pelvic or reproductive organs.

 

By closely observing these organs with a laparoscope (the long and thin instrument that is inserted through the incision(s) made on the abdominal cavity of the patient), a doctor can detect:

• The presence of absence of a mass (or tumor) within the abdominal cavity of the patient.
• The presence or absence of fluid in the abdominal cavity of the patient.
• The telltale signs on the liver that can indicate the onset or progress of liver disease.
• The overall effectiveness of certain treatments administered by the doctor to mitigate certain diseases that affects the organs found within the human abdominal cavity and

The overall progress of certain diseases like cancer that affects organs found within the human abdominal cavity.