Liver cancer: This is the initial test that helps detect the disease in its early stages.

Liver cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers. In fact, a 2021 WHO study determined that there are more than 900,000 patients with this condition worldwide, and that there are even countries where up to six cases are detected per day, such as Argentina. Therefore, it's important to be aware of any symptoms and take preventive measures, one of which is a simple test.
Currently, medicine has different studies to detect liver cancer , Although there is a test that is performed first to examine this vital organ: ultrasound.
Also known as ultrasound or sonography, it is a diagnostic imaging test that can be used to observe tissues, organs, and other areas of the body, allowing the doctor to see the inside of the patient without surgery.
Sound waves are used in this procedure to create an image on a computer screen, according to the American Cancer Society. This way, they can find tumors growing in this area and determine if they are cancerous.

Fatty liver. Photo: iStock.
The factors that influence the onset of this condition are so varied that they may be due to family history or recent liver disease. However, there are situations and habits that you should pay attention to:
- Age and gender: It typically occurs in adults between the ages of 55 and 70. It is more common in men than women.
- Diseases: People who have or suffered from chronic viral hepatitis, hereditary hemochromatosis, cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may suffer from liver cancer.
- Diet: Obesity can increase the risk of this type of cancer, as it also causes fatty liver disease and cirrhosis.
- Addictions: Alcohol consumption can trigger cirrhosis, while tobacco releases toxins that can affect the liver in the long term.

Cancer is a treatable disease. Photo: iStock
Many signs may not directly indicate liver cancer. However, it's best to pay attention to discomfort or unusual sensations in your body and have a doctor check to make sure everything is in order.
Some of the most common symptoms patients experience include weight loss without trying to lose any weight, nausea or vomiting, pain in the abdomen or near the right shoulder blade, swelling or fluid buildup in the abdomen, itching, loss of appetite, feeling full after eating a small amount, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), an enlarged liver (lump under the ribs on the right side) or spleen (lump under the ribs on the left side).

Liver Photo: iStock.
Liver cancer is cancer that begins in the liver cells . The liver is a soccer-ball-sized organ located in the upper right corner of the liver. of the abdomen, below the diaphragm and above the stomach.
Several types of liver cancer can form. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). Other types of liver cancer, such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma, are much less common.
Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common than cancer that begins in liver cells. Cancer that begins in another area of the body, such as the colon, lung, or breast, and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic cancer rather than liver cancer. This type of cancer is named after the organ in which it began, like metastatic colon cancer, to describe cancer that begins in the colon and spreads to the liver.
eltiempo