Hepatocellular carcinoma facts for kids

Hepatocellular carcinoma (say: hep-uh-toe-SEL-yoo-ler kar-sin-OH-muh), often called liver cancer, is the most common type of cancer that starts in the liver. It happens more often in people whose liver has been damaged, a condition called cirrhosis.

If this cancer is found early, when it's small and only in the liver, doctors can sometimes remove it with surgery. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (this is called metastatic cancer), doctors might use special medicines, like one called Nexavar, to help treat it. In some cases, a liver transplant might be an option.

What is Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer is a disease where cells in the liver grow out of control. The liver is a very important organ in your body. It helps clean your blood, makes important chemicals, and stores energy. When cancer cells grow in the liver, they can stop it from working properly.

What Causes Liver Cancer?

Several things can increase a person's chance of getting liver cancer. These are called risk factors. Knowing about them can help people understand how to keep their liver healthy.

Common Risk Factors

• Hepatitis B or C: These are types of viruses that can infect the liver. Over time, they can cause a lot of damage and lead to cancer. Getting vaccinated against Hepatitis B can help prevent this.
• Cirrhosis: This is when the liver becomes scarred and damaged, often from long-term illness or heavy drinking. This scarring makes it harder for the liver to work and increases the risk of cancer.
• Aflatoxin exposure: Aflatoxins are harmful substances made by certain molds. These molds can grow on crops like corn, peanuts, and nuts if they are not stored correctly. Eating food with aflatoxins can damage the liver.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes have high blood sugar levels. This condition can also increase the risk of liver problems, including cancer.

Images for kids

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  This image shows a liver with hepatocellular carcinoma using a special X-ray scan called a CT scan.

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  This is a close-up view of liver cancer cells under a microscope, taken from a Liver biopsy.

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  This picture shows what hepatocellular carcinoma looks like to the naked eye in a liver.

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  This chart shows how common different types of liver tumors are in adults. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common.

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  This image shows liver cancer cells that look somewhat like normal liver cells.

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  Here, the cancer cells look less like normal liver cells.

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  In this picture, the cancer cells look very different from normal liver cells.

See also

In Spanish: Hepatocarcinoma para niños