Liver cancer takes thousands of lives every year. Alcohol and tobacco are the main causes of liver

As the Directors at the Sharp Rees Medical Facility, we will be talking about the liver. The liver is a very important organ in the human body as it does not just perform one function but is involved in multiple tasks. Some interesting facts about the liver; it weighs under five pounds, it has a shape like a half football and everyone is born with one. Just like most other disease or disorder, if the liver has not been taken care of properly there are many negative outcomes that can affect and destroy the liver. There are many complications when the liver is abused or damage for example cancer, hemochromatosis, gallbladder or

“Each Year in the United States about one-hundred and fifty-thousand patients develop cancer of the colon or rectum. Around fifty percent of these patients will either have a cancer that has already spread to the liver or they will come back in future years with metastatic cancer to the liver.” Liver cancer, or other known as Hepatocellular Carcinoma, is a cancer residing in the liver. There are other cancers like metastatic cancer that starts at other organs then spreads to the liver. Being the third most common cancer in the world, it is also one of the deadliest. Twenty percent of the patients that are affected by liver cancer survive for a year after diagnosis. Sadly, five percentile of the survivors live for only five years or more.

According to the American Liver Foundation, a healthy liver cleans blood, fights infection processes food and stores energy. The liver is able to regenerate itself, but when it becomes too damaged or is prevented from regenerating, it will fail and no longer be able to keep able to keep one alive (2015). Despite its ability to regenerate, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is the twelfth leading cause of death of death in the United States. My interest in further exploring liver related deaths is the due to the impact that liver disease has had on my family. My young cousin was born with a malignant tumor on her liver and spent the first several years of her life undergoing surgeries and chemotherapy. She survived the treatment and at the age of 4 was free of cancer. At the age of 24 she was told that her liver was beginning the process of failure and she would need to be put on the transplant liver for long-term survival. My grandmother died of cirrhosis of the liver and my father, after 3 years of treatment for melanoma, was diagnosed with liver failure. He had a procedure to prolong the useful life of his liver, but the damage to his liver will not allow his liver to regenerate and it will likely be liver failure which leads to his death.

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of normal, healthy liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue, blocking the flow of blood through the organ and preventing it from working as it should, as well as regenerative nodules leading to progressive loss of liver function. The liver, the largest organ in the body, is vital in keeping the body functioning properly. It removes or neutralizes poisons from the blood, produces immune agents to control infection, and removes germs and bacteria from the blood. It

HCV is related to the liver; and it was interesting to hear that the consumption of alcohol can greatly damage the liver. Yet, despite how educated or prestige and individual may be, they still drink. During a conversation I had with my physician, he told me, “I had PhD colleagues who had drinking problems.” It amazed me that even with the full awareness that drinking diminishes the liver’s health, people persist in doing

Cancer is the development of faulty cells and is caused by mutations in the DNA of the cell which make it defective. Normal cells have methods to prevent cancer cells from forming, such as tumor suppressor genes but sometimes cancer can bypass these methods and grow out of control, forming tumors. If the cancer cells come into contact with the lymphatic system or circulatory system, it can travel to other parts of the body through them and cause cancer in those areas of the body too. Once the cancer has spread throughout the body it leads to death within a few years as the cancer takes over the healthy cells. Mutations in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes can cause liver cancer, which can be slowed down with treatments

While many people view consuming alcohol as charming, it is indeed detrimental to a person’s health and well-being. “[As of] 2013, 86.6 percent of people ages eighteen and older have drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime…56.4 percent reported that they drank in the past month” (NIAAA). Drinking is the cause of many accident inflicted hospital visits, increases the risk for a plethora of illness, and is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States (NIAAA).

One of the most commonly known problems of the liver caused by alcohol is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer. There are other types of liver cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer of the bile duct, and hepatic angiosarcoma, a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor. Both of these cancers are not caused by alcohol abuse. HCC is caused by cirrhosis or other long-term damage to the liver. Cirrhosis is most often caused by alcohol abuse, hemochromatosis, or a hepatitis B or C infection. Symptoms of HCC include abdominal pain, easy bruising, enlarged abdomen, jaundiced skin or eyes, and unexplained weight loss. Many tests are ordered to diagnosis liver

Liver cirrhosis is a life threatening disease and is irreversible. It is therefore of utmost

This paper describes, briefly, the stages of the alcoholism as it slowly damages the liver, and finally results in permanent, irreversible damage called cirrhosis. Excessive alcohol consumption, or alcoholism is the number one cause of cirrhosis in the U.S. Though tolerance levels are different for each individual, daily consumption of more than ten alcoholic drinks over ten or more years contribute to a higher risk of cirrhosis. The first part of the paper will describe the liver and what the liver does. I will also discuss different levels of drinking leading to alcoholism. Finally, the paper will also discuss the deterioration levels leading to the signs and symptoms of cirrhosis.

Research studies done by the National Cancer Institute concluded “Based on data from 2009, an estimated 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States (about 19,500 deaths) were alcohol related” (National Cancer Institute, 2013). It was also reported that “Clear patterns have emerged between alcohol consumption and the development of head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer” (National Cancer Institute, 2013). It is plain to see that alcohol consumption directly increases risks for specific types of cancer.

Cirrhosis, the development of scar tissue in the liver, can often result in liver cancer. Additionally, some environmental factors, such as exposure to particular chemicals or eating food contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxin produced by mold on nuts and grains, may raise the risk of cancer. Excessive alcohol and tobacco usage is associated with developing cirrhosis and liver cancer as well. Obesity and diabetes are also risk factors in developing liver cancer. A person can lower their risk of liver cancer by avoiding and treating hepatitis infections, limiting their alcohol and tobacco use and avoiding obesity. Moreover, a person should control their exposure to cancer causing chemicals and make healthy food choices. A person should also treat any inherited liver diseases that could increase their risk of cancer.

In conclusion, from detoxifying to body to metabolism and storage of important nutrients to the production of bile the liver preforms a lot of important functions. When damaged by substances such as alcohol, the liver is not able to properly perform its functions and can lead to a variety of diseases or permanent damage. Awareness of these functions and what can cause damage to it is a good way to keep your liver healthy and

Approximately 30% of cancer deaths caused are due to the 5 leading behavioural and dietary risks such as ,obesity over the average more suitable weight , low fruit ,vegetable, and other vital mineral intake, lack of physical activity, the use of certain narcotics and more especially the use of tobacco substances, alcohol abuse .

Even though the liver has the ability to react to damage and can repair itself, repetitive insults can produce liver failure or deadly diseases, infections, and disorders. A few such diseases are viral hepatitis, yellow fever, and rubella. Some of the disease caused by bacteria are amebic dysentery, leptospirosis, and streptococcal infections. These diseases can fatally damage the liver.