Stage 4 liver cancer is advanced and has spread beyond the liver. Diagnostic tests are used to determine the stage and treatment options. Symptoms include decreased appetite, weight loss, and yellowing of the skin. Treatment options may be limited, and the prognosis is generally poor. Liver metastases differ from primary liver cancer and treatment depends on the organ of origin.
Primary liver cancer — cancer that originates in liver tissue and hasn’t metastasized from elsewhere — is staged based on the size of the cancer and the extent to which it has spread. Stage 4 liver cancer, the final stage, is advanced cancer that has spread beyond the liver and invades surrounding organs and tissues. Diagnostic tests are used to determine the stage and subsequent treatment options. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer, forming in liver cells rather than the bile ducts or blood vessels of the liver. Treatment options may be limited in this late stage and include various chemotherapies and radiation.
Stage 4 liver cancer is advanced cancer and is diagnosed using a variety of tests. X-rays can be used to view the organs and bones to see if the cancer has spread to other areas. Other tests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bone scans, and computed tomography (CT) axial tomography. Stage 4 liver cancer can have tumors of any size and number in the liver. The definitive feature is that the cancer has spread from the liver to other areas of the body including the bones, circulatory system or lymph nodes.
Frequently, there are no symptoms until the liver cancer has progressed to later stages. The liver is a complex organ with hundreds of metabolic functions, including the removal of waste products and toxins, and plays a vital role in digestion. Symptoms of stage 4 liver cancer are often related to disruption or complete loss of these processes. The most common symptoms include decreased appetite and weight loss, yellowing of the skin and abdominal pain. Nausea and vomiting, extreme tiredness, and fever are other symptoms that may be present in stage 4 liver cancer.
The prognosis for stage 4 liver cancer is generally poor, and treatment options may be limited. Liver cancer is often not diagnosed until the later stages, making it one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Treatment is individualized based on how far the cancer has metastasized, the patient’s overall health, and other factors. There is no known cure for stage 4 liver cancer, and five-year survival rates are extremely low. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and possible liver transplantation.
Liver metastases differ from primary liver cancer because metastatic cancers have spread to the liver from another organ in the body rather than originating in the liver. Cancers that spread to the liver include cancers of the breast, colorectal, and esophagus. Secondary or metastatic liver cancer is more common than primary liver cancer. Treatment of liver metastases depends on the organ of origin, the number and size of the tumors, and the spread of the cancer to other organs and tissues. Surgery, chemotherapy, and other therapies are used to remove or shrink tumors and improve life expectancy.
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