Liver cancer begins in the liver,
the largest organ in the body. The liver performs
many crucial body functions, including:
- storing
vitamins and nutrients until needed
- metabolizing
nutrients so they can be used by the body
- producing
a blood protein (albumin) needed for proper fluid
balance in the body
- making clotting factors to plug up damaged
blood vessels
- ridding the body of poisonous
(toxic) drugs and chemicals
There are a number of tumors that
can form in the liver. Some are cancerous; others
are not. There are four main types of malignancies:
- Angiosarcoma - a rare cancer that starts in the blood vessels
of the liver.
- Cholangiocarcinoma -
accounts for about 13% of liver cancers. This tumor
begins in the small bile ducts in the liver
and is also known as Klatskin tumors.
- Hepatoblastoma - a rare type of liver cancer
that can often be treated successfully.
It is usually
found in young children.
- Hepatocellular
carcinoma - accounts for about 84%
of liver cancers. It begins in the hepatocytes,
the main type of liver cell.
Source: American Cancer Society
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