The liver is one of the vital organs of the body located on the right side of the abdomen, below the diaphragm. It is protected by ribs. The liver plays an important role in the digestion process along with the pancreas and intestines. Some of its main functions are detoxification, protein synthesis and the production of biochemical substances necessary for digestion.
The named organ promotes bile secretion, the production of the protein necessary for blood coagulation, glycogen storage, and the decomposition of red blood cells and amino acids. The liver is also involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and in the production of hormones.
In the article, we will find out how, when diagnosing cancer, the said organ undergoes its treatment. Metastases in the liver do not allow an accurate prognosis that they will not appear again, and in any case, the patient will have to monitor his condition and visit a doctor all his life.
What are metastases
The risk of cancer spreading in the liver depends on the location of the original formation. Metastases are malignant tumors that have spread, for example, to the liver from another place in the body. In this case, they are called secondary liver cancer. Primary pathology occurs in the organ itself. But even if the tumor is removed, after many years, metastases can again enter the liver.
If a patient has been diagnosed with cancer, it is important to know its symptoms and to understand how treatment is carried out. Liver metastases require compulsory follow-up by a specialist.
Metastasis process
There are 6 stages to the formation of metastases. Not all malignant tumors follow it, but in most cases, this is how they progress:
- Cancer cells move from their primary location to nearby organs or healthy tissue.
- Metastases travel through the walls of the lymphatic and blood vessels.
- Cancer cells migrate through the lymphatic system and bloodstream to other parts of the body.
- Stop moving when they reach the goal. Then metastases move through the capillaries (small blood vessels), their walls and penetrate into neighboring tissues.
- Cancer cells grow in a remote place and create small tumors called micrometastases.
- These formations stimulate the creation of new blood vessels that supply the nutrients and oxygen necessary for the growth of a malignant tumor.
For what reasons, many malignant tumors metastasize to the liver
The localization of malignant tumors in the liver occurs mainly due to cancer of the stomach and esophagus. But often, due to lung cancer, liver metastases also form. Treatment (reviews about it are ambiguous) is aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms, but also at the causes of their occurrence.
Good blood circulation and features of the functioning of the liver determine its attractiveness to malignant cells. More than 1.5 liters of blood pass through it every minute. This body is a kind of boiler for purifying blood from toxic substances.
Metastatic cells settle in those places where blood flow passes at a slower rate. According to this principle, liver metastases are also formed. Pancreatic cancer, the treatment of which, although aimed at non-proliferation in other organs, can nevertheless, for example, affect the described organ, especially if the disease is at the last stage.
Symptomatic manifestation of the disease
Unfortunately, in the early stages there are no signs by which to determine the presence of oncology. And in later stages, liver cancer can cause it to swell. When this happens, the following symptoms occur:
- loss of appetite;
- weight loss;
- dark color of urine;
- bloating or flatulence;
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes);
- pain in the right shoulder;
- pain in the upper right abdomen;
- nausea;
- sweating and fever;
- bump on the right side of the abdomen, below the chest.
Testing and Diagnostics
During a physical examination, the doctor may suspect liver cancer. And if one of the above symptoms did not bother the patient, an additional examination will be required to confirm the diagnosis.
- The level of serum markers in the blood is determined. With the present disease, there may be higher levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Liver enzymes are often elevated.
- An abdominal CT scan is performed. This is a special type of x-ray that provides visual images of soft tissues, organs in detail.
- Ultrasound of the liver. It is also called sonography. Ultrasound transmits high-frequency sound waves through the body. These sound waves produce an echo, which is then used to create a map, a computerized image of the body’s soft tissues.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) creates very clear images of internal organs.
- Laparoscopy. Doctors use a narrow tube (laparoscope) with light and a biopsy. The instrument is inserted through a small incision and material is taken for examination under a microscope. Laparoscopy is the most reliable minimally invasive method for diagnosing cancer.
What factors does therapy depend on?
Fortunately, the development of medical technologies offers increasingly effective methods of treating liver metastases, and also gives hope to patients. Currently, there are several options used to treat metastatic cancer.
As a rule, the choice of therapeutic intervention will depend on the patient’s age and general health status, size, location and number of metastatic tumors, history of primary cancer and types of neoplasms in the patient.
Systemic Therapies
Systemic treatment of liver cancer metastases occurs through the bloodstream. In medicine, several methods are used:
- Chemotherapy: A form of treatment using drugs to kill cancer cells.
- BRM therapy: a treatment that uses specific antibodies, growth factors, and a vaccine. These supplements are designed to enhance or restore the immune system's ability to fight cancer.
- Targeted treatment. Liver metastases are destroyed with drugs and other substances, such as monoclonal antibodies made in the laboratory and designed to detect cancer cells. This therapy has fewer side effects than other methods.
- Hormone therapy. It is used to slow down or stop the growth of certain types of tumors.
- Localized treatment. Liver metastases are targeted, only in places of localization. It can be used in the early stages of the disease.
- Radiation therapy. It uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
- Surgical removal. It is possible if there is a small number of malignant lesions affecting only a small area of the liver.
Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer from the main organ. Treatment of any form depends on the breadth of the distribution of bad cells to distant organs. If the cancer spreads to other tissues, it can reduce the patient’s survival rate.
Resection and prognosis during its implementation
Statistics show that patients with cancer of the stomach (liver metastases), the treatment of which was correct and effective, still have poor prognoses. The survival rate for such people, unfortunately, is the lowest. Less than 20% of patients after treatment have a chance to live about 3 years.
The clinical efficacy of resection of hepatic metastases is still not considered generally accepted. However, non-surgical treatments do not allow satisfactory results. In patients undergoing chemotherapy, the average survival rate varies from 2.9 to 11.8 months.
Clinical and pathological features associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer and liver metastases have not been comprehensively examined. Nevertheless, their presence in a vital organ is a statistically significant adverse prognostic factor for patients.
After the resection, it is necessary to place the patient under the supervision of doctors, since it is very important to conduct an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity to prevent accumulation of fluid in the area of the operation. After the patient is discharged from the clinic, he must undergo an examination once every three months for two years to exclude relapse.
Alternative treatment (metastases in the liver)
Non-traditional methods are also applicable in the treatment of cancer. But all of them are effective only at an early stage of its development.
First of all, it is necessary to observe proper nutrition. To alleviate the focus of pain, you should stop eating harmful foods. In this way, of course, it is impossible to cure liver metastases. Treatment with folk remedies will only help maintain the general condition and relieve the patient of some symptoms.
To avoid a disease that becomes a chronic stage of development, use the following remedy: weigh 100 g of oats, pour 2500 ml of boiling water over it, add 150 ml of natural liquid honey. The bank must be closed and put to insist in a warm dark place for a day. After 24 hours have passed, put it in a cold place so that the cooked product does not sour. It should be taken twice a day after meals for 6 weeks.
Note! Any unconventional remedy that you prefer to use will not cure liver metastases. Treatment with folk remedies cannot be carried out independently. Consult with your doctor first.
What is the percentage of survival
The life expectancy of a patient suffering from liver metastases obviously depends on when the pathology is diagnosed, as well as on the treatment options that have been taken. According to statistical studies, only 10% of the described patients live for 5 years. But with early detection of pathology and timely treatment started, 5-year survival is already observed in 40% of patients.
A liver transplant increases the chances of survival by more than 80% and guarantees survival in 75% of cases.