Liver cancer
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What is liver cancer?
- Cancer that starts in the liver is called liver cancer1
- The liver is the largest internal organ in the body and is involved in digestion, the breakdown of waste products, and blood clotting1
- Secondary liver cancer develops when cancer cells from another type of cancer, e.g. breast cancer, travel to the liver via the bloodstream2
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Types of liver cancer
- There are several different kinds of liver cancer: hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, angiosarcoma and haemangiosarcoma, and hepatoblastoma1
- Hepatocellular carcinoma is by far the most common type1
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Who gets liver cancer?
- Liver cancer mostly affects people aged 60 years or older;2 hepatoblastoma is a very rare kind of cancer in children1
- Many cases of liver cancer are linked to cirrhosis; heavy drinking, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatitis B and C can all lead to cirrhosis3
- It is the 6th most common cancer worldwide4
- 782,000 new cases were diagnosed worldwide in 20124
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Screening, detection, and diagnosis
- People at high risk of developing liver cancer can be screened using ultrasound scans and a blood test for a protein called alphafetoprotein5
- The following tests are used for diagnosis :5
- CT and MRI scans
- Biopsy
- Laparoscopy
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Patient guidelines
A patient guideline is a document containing information for patients and their families about their disease and the treatment options available to them
Click here to see the European patient guideline on your condition6
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Local support groups
Contacting a support group may help you during diagnosis and treatment and afterwards
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Infographics
Click here for information on the incidence of liver cancer in Europe7
Glossary