Liver Cancer
Schonathan Crews
BIOL1410
1B

Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. It accounts for more than 600,000 deaths each year. Most people that are diagnosed with liver cancer are men 45 years or older. The majority of the time when cancer is found in the liver, it originated elsewhere in the body. The only time cancer found in the liver is called “liver cancer” is when the cancer originated in the liver. (American, 2014) Liver cancer mainly affects the liver and bile ducts. Liver cancer also causes side effects in other parts of the body. These side effects include, low blood sugar levels, high red blood cell count, high cholesterol, and high blood calcium. Other common symptoms of liver cancer include jaundice, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, enlarged liver or spleen. (American, 2014) Low blood sugar occurs due to the impairment of glycogen production. Low blood sugar can lead to feeling shaky, hungry, or sweaty. You may even feel faint. If low blood sugar isn’t corrected, it can lead to confusion and disorientation. Severe cases can cause coma and/or death.
High red blood cell count, also called polycythaemia, occurs due to the tumor(s) secreting excess erythropoietin (EPO). Side effects from having polycythaemia include blurred vision, muscle pain, and dizziness. If left untreated, severe cases can cause chest pains and high blood pressure. People with polycythaemia are also at increased risk for DVT and blood clots which can lead to heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism and/or death.
High blood calcium generally occurs in the very late stages of cancer. This happens when the cancer causes calcium to leak from the bones and into the bloodstream. Side effects from mild hypercalcemia include fatigue and excessive tiredness. Moderate high levels can cause an increase in kidney stones, excess urinary output and in some cases heart dysrhythmias. Severe levels of hypercalcemia have been associated with coma and death if not corrected quickly.
Another late stage symptom of liver cancer is jaundice. Jaundice is caused when the bile ducts are blocked and bilirubin builds up in the blood. This increase can lead to weakness, weight loss, itchy skin, and dark colored urine and stool. More advanced stages of jaundice can cause nausea and vomiting, rectal bleeding, swelling of the legs, and in time confusion.