Liver Cancer in Turkey
Liver Cancer in Turkey is an article that aims to give you all the information you do not know about liver cancer in Turkey and more. We kindly shared the main headings with you;
What is liver cancer?
One of the cancers that is spreading the quickest in the US is liver cancer, which is a potentially fatal disease. Liver cancer comes in two varieties: primary and secondary. You develop primary carcinoma in your liver. Your liver develops secondary cancer, which originates in another area of your body.
What is the main cause of liver cancer?
When something modifies the DNA of healthy liver cells, liver cancer results. The genes that instruct our cells on how to operate are carried by DNA. Genes that control when cells divide, grow, and die are present in every human. Oncogenes, for instance, promote cell division and growth. Tumor suppressor genes are other genes that keep an eye on cell activity, preventing abnormally high cell division and ensuring that cells die when they should. Our cells receive updated instructions when our DNA mutates or changes. Mutations in the DNA cause oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes to become active in HCC. Research indicates that over 50% of instances of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis are associated with HCC. These viruses alter the DNA of the liver cells they infect, transforming them from healthy to malignant cells.Invest in your health, invest in a brighter future. Our comprehensive medical programs deliver real results, while you indulge in the beauty and serenity of our destination.
What are the symptoms of liver cancer?
It is not a sign of liver cancer if you have one or more of the symptoms listed below. Other illnesses are more likely to be the cause of many of these symptoms. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to get any of these symptoms examined by a physician to identify the underlying reason and, if necessary, begin treatment. Liver cancer symptoms and indicators might appear earlier in the course of the illness, although they usually do not until later. See your doctor as soon as you start experiencing symptoms so that your cancer can be discovered early when treatment has the best chance of working. The following are a few of the most typical liver cancer symptoms:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling very full after a small meal
- Nausea or vomiting
- An enlarged liver, felt as fullness under the ribs on the right side
- An enlarged spleen, felt as fullness under the ribs on the left side
- Pain in the abdomen (belly) or near the right shoulder blade
- Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen (belly)
- Itching
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Fever, swollen veins visible through the skin on the abdomen, and unusual bleeding or bruises are some more symptoms.
How does liver cancer affect your body?
The largest organ in your body, the liver, aids in food digestion. Among the vital functions your liver does are the following:
- Gathers and purifies the blood that exits your intestines.
- Absorbs nutrients from your intestines and stores them.
- Transforms some nutrients into compounds your body needs to generate tissue or energy.
- Produces bile, a liquid that aids in fat digestion.
- Produces energy by breaking down and storing other nutrients from the diet, such as sugar.
- Produces chemicals that aid in blood clotting.
To learn more about liver cancer in Turkey continue reading.
What are the types of liver cancer?
Primary liver cancer comes in three different forms:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Accounting for almost all occurrences of liver cancer, this is the most prevalent type of the disease.
- Intrahepatic cancer (IHC): Cholangiocarcinoma, or intrahepatic cancer (IHC), is one type of the disease. IHC is bile duct carcinoma in the liver. Roughly 10% to 20% of all instances of primary liver cancer are represented by it. According to medical professionals, having chronic bile duct irritation raises your chance of getting IHC. Prolonged inflammation may alter DNA, resulting in aberrant cells growing out of healthy ones.
- Angiosarcoma: Approximately 1% of instances of primary liver cancer are of this extremely uncommon form. The lining of your liver’s blood cells is where this cancer starts. (Additionally, angiosarcoma may impact other organs.)
How liver cancer is diagnosed?
Ask your healthcare provider about liver cancer screenings if you have diabetes, obesity, liver disease, or are a heavy drinker. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which may be produced by cancer cells, can be detected in the blood. Other screening methods for liver cancer include imaging tests like an ultrasound, computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
If your physical examination reveals liver cancer signs and symptoms, your healthcare professional may suspect liver cancer in you. To find out more, they could request the following tests,
- Blood testing: To determine whether your liver is healthy or damaged, medical professionals may do blood tests for cancer, such as a liver function test, to look at proteins, enzymes, and other substances. They could run an alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) test. Elevated AFP levels could be a sign of liver cancer.
- Sonography, or ultrasound: This examination creates images of your soft tissue composition. Ultrasound is a tool used by medical professionals to detect liver cancers.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan: This unique kind of X-ray provides precise images of your liver and tells you about the location and size of liver tumors.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This test uses radio waves, a big magnet, and a computer to create incredibly clear images of your body. Angiogram: This test aids medical professionals in examining the blood arteries in your liver. Your healthcare provider will inject dye into an artery during this procedure to monitor blood vessel activity and check for obstructions.
- Biopsy: Medical professionals take tissue from the liver to check for cancerous growths. The most trustworthy method of verifying a liver cancer diagnosis is through biopsies.
How IHC is diagnosed?
If the healthcare professional suspects you could have IHC, they might do the following tests:
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): This procedure looks at your bile ducts using an endoscope and a catheter, which are thin, flexible tubes.
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC): Similar to an ERCP, a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) produces X-rays of your bile ducts. Your healthcare professional administers contrast dye by directly placing a needle into your liver and bile ducts, as opposed to using an endoscope and catheter. Usually, a PTC is reserved for those who are unable to have an ERCP.
What are the treatment types of liver cancer in Turkey?
There are several options for the treatment of liver cancer in Turkey. Tumor ablation and chemotherapy administered directly to the cancerous tissue are the most widely used treatments for primary liver cancer. Chemotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and surgery are the most often used therapies for secondary liver cancer.
Surgery
A liver transplant, in which the entire liver is replaced with a donor liver, or partial liver excision are two possible surgical procedures. Partial hepatectomy is the surgical term for removing a portion of the liver. After surgery, if the remaining liver tissue is not injured, it can normally heal itself and return to its normal size in a few months.
When a patient’s liver cannot be partially removed, they may be candidates for liver transplantation. Before a person is eligible for a liver transplant, a variety of variables are taken into account, including their general health. A person should also have given up alcohol use for at least six months, not smoke, and not use illegal substances. It would be feasible to undergo a liver transplant; however, the waiting period for a suitable donor liver could be long. Most patients receive additional cancer treatments during this time.
Chemotherapy
Depending on the kind of liver cancer you have, chemotherapy medications may be prescribed to eradicate, reduce, or halt the growth of the tumors. Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously, orally, or systemically, meaning it enters the body through a drip. This could be administered after surgery or cryotherapy to eradicate any cancer cells that might still be present. Unless the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is often not utilized to treat primary liver cancer. As a palliative measure, systemic chemotherapy can also be used to lessen pain and slow the progression of the malignancy.
Tumor Ablation
Small primary liver tumors are the most prevalent indication for tumor ablation. It is infrequently utilized for hepatic secondary cancer. The most popular forms of tumor ablation therapies heat and kill cancer cells using radio waves and microwaves. Either a surgical incision (ablation with surgery) or a needle put through the skin (percutaneous ablation) is used to give this treatment.
Palliative Care
Your medical team may discuss palliative care with you if you have liver cancer. Palliative care seeks to lessen cancer’s symptoms to enhance your quality of life. Palliative care not only lessens the progression of liver cancer but also relieves pain and helps control other symptoms. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other medication therapies are possible forms of treatment.
To create your package and calculate the cost of your treatment use the cost calculator below.
What are the stages of cancer?
Using guidelines established by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer System (BCLC), medical professionals stage HCC. This approach assesses the features of the HCC liver, such as the size of the tumor, your symptoms, and how effectively your liver is functioning. Healthcare professionals may refer to each stage of BCLC using a different name; for example, they may refer to stages I through IV or 0-C, or they may use phrases like early and advanced stage HCC.
Stages of hepatocellular carcinoma encompass the following:
- Stage I/very early stage/or stage 0: You have a solitary, smaller than 2-centimeter (cm) tumor in your liver. You have a normal bilirubin level according to blood tests.
- Stage II/early stage/stage A: One tumor measuring five centimeters or less, or many tumors measuring three centimeters or less, are present. The tumor may have invaded your blood vessels.
- Stage III/intermediate stage/stage B: Characterized by the possibility of multiple tumors or tumors larger than 5 cm. The tumor may have moved to one of your organs, big blood vessels, or lymph nodes.
- Stage IV/advanced stage/stage C: The cancer has progressed to other bodily parts, including lymph nodes, bones, and lungs.
Why early diagnosis is important?
Similar to many other types of cancer, liver cancer can be treated more effectively in its early stages by medical professionals. In contrast to many other cancer types, liver cancer is quite well-understood by medical professionals. Therefore, medical professionals are determined to determine who could be more vulnerable to diagnose and treat primary liver cancer as soon as possible.
Is liver cancer curable?
Liver cancer can be cured by successful liver transplants, but not every patient in need of one will be in good enough health to undergo the procedure or be able to locate a donor. Based on research, individuals who undergo surgery to remove a portion of their liver typically have longer lifespans than those whose disease precludes surgery. When that occurs, medical professionals concentrate on providing care to prolong patients’ quality of life.
How can you prevent liver cancer?
Although liver cancer cannot be prevented, you can reduce your risk of developing the disease by doing the following:
- Steer clear of actions that cause cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a chronic liver injury that results in hepatic fibrosis, or scarring. The scar tissue inhibits the liver’s normal function. Because it develops after earlier stages of liver-damaging illnesses like hepatitis, cirrhosis is commonly referred to as end-stage liver disease.
- Achieve and sustain a healthy weight.
- Vaccinate against hepatitis B. Almost everyone can safely receive this vaccine.
- Consult your physician on the hepatitis A vaccination.
- Vaccine against hepatitis C.
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Why choose Turkey for liver cancer treatment?
- Effectiveness of treatments. Turkey provides patients with cutting-edge therapies. Patients are grateful for the favorable results of these cutting-edge therapies.
- The professionalism of the doctors. Turkish medical professionals with extensive training and experience in treating osteoarthritis carry out a lot of procedures and treatments and are a part of renowned organizations.
- Service quality. Patients value the excellent quality of service, which includes complimentary services like transportation from the airport to the hospital and translation services.
- Cost. In Turkey, the cost of treating cancer is more inexpensive than in other countries.