The last stages of any malignant disease are considered an extremely unfavorable prognostic sign.
Cancer of the liver of the latter, that is, the fourth stage, develops with lightning speed, sometimes from diagnosis of the first-second degree of malignant lesion and until the appearance of distant metastases takes only a few months.
There is no effective treatment leading to recovery in the last stages of cancer of the liver tissue. Oncologists, their patients with such a diagnosis, choose only maintenance therapy necessary to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms of liver cancer Stage 4
The diagnosis of liver cancer of the fourth stage is set when the patient detects distant secondary foci, that is, atypical( cancer) cells spread throughout the body.
In this case, the fourth degree is divided into two subspecies, this:
- 4A stage. Malignant tumor affects both lobes of the organ, its germination is revealed in the portal vein branches located in the liver tissues. There is a proliferation of a growing tumor on a number of organs located and on the peritoneum. Closely located groups of lymph nodes are affected by cancer cells.
- 4B stage is set when metastases are diagnosed in distant organs. In the tissues of the kidneys, pancreas, ovaries, prostate, intestine, cancer cells enter with blood.
Cancerous liver disease is characterized by general and specific symptoms, which are most clearly manifested in the fourth stage.
The pain is most pronounced - a growing tumor squeezes most of the nerve endings and so the pains are constantly troubled, and their intensity reaches a maximum.
In addition to pain, liver cancer can be suggested for a number of reasons, such as:
- A noticeable weight loss that occurs in some cases before cachexia.
- Severe fatigue.
- Constant weakness.
- Expressed a violation of almost all digestive functions. This leads to constant nausea, a feeling of heaviness in the upper half of the abdomen, flatulence, vomiting, heartburn, constipation and diarrhea.
- Severe severity of anemia.
At the last stage of cancer, the pressure in the bile ducts increases significantly, which causes the development of mechanical jaundice. Yellow skin color, icteric sclera, permanent and intolerable itching of the skin, its dryness - all these are manifestations of mechanical jaundice. At this stage, almost always the urine is dark in color, and the feces are discolored, almost white.
Bile pigments accumulate in the brain tissues, which causes the development of hepatic encephalopathy, which leads to pathological disorders of most brain functions.
Another complication of liver cancer of the fourth stage is ascites, which develops as a result of compression of the portal vein with an enlarged tumor. Dropsy leads to accumulation in the abdominal cavity up to 15-20 liters of fluid, but even a few liters of exudate significantly increase the load on the cardiovascular and respiratory system.
The condition of the patient with ascites sharply worsens, there may be shortness of breath, tachycardia, severe weakness. With liver cancer of the fourth degree, the likelihood and development of bleeding arising from the disintegration of the tumor.
Malignant liver damage of the fourth stage leads to almost complete loss of ability to work, the sick person lies more, the depressive state develops, the sleep is broken, periods of drowsiness are replaced by insomnia.
Cancer in the last stages leads to metastasis. And this means that the functions of most internal organs are also violated.
Causes of
The basis of any cancer is normal cells that have undergone mutations. What causes a mutation in liver cancer is not fully established, but a number of factors predisposing to the disease have been identified.
Although some patients with this diagnosis did not have a history of a history of heaviness.
Liver cancer develops more often if there is an effect on the body:
- Viruses that cause hepatitis. The most common malignant degeneration is the cells of a person who has the disease with viral hepatitis B.
- Chronic diseases - cholelithiasis, cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, syphilis, diabetes.
- Parasites. Helminths can settle in liver tissues, disrupting the structure of cells and changing the functioning of organs.
- Chemicals with a high degree of carcinogens.
- Aflatoxins. This term denotes special mold fungi that multiply on some food products - cereals, nuts.
- Tobacco resins, ethanol.
The hereditary predisposition to the formation of malignant neoplasms in the liver is also revealed. The cancer risk of this organ is also high for those athletes who take uncontrolled anabolic steroids for muscle mass.
Diagnosis
A preliminary diagnosis of liver cancer of the fourth stage is exhibited already after examination of the patient, collection of complaints and anamnesis of the disease.
In order to avoid any doubts and to exclude other pathologies, the oncologist prescribes a number of standard studies:
- ultrasound. This method is the most common, conduct a liver scan quickly, in the fourth stage the tumor is visualized without problems.
- Computer tomography.
- Biopsy. Typically, the tissue sample is taken during diagnostic laparoscopy.
- Analyzes for oncomarkers.
- General and biochemical blood analysis.
- To determine the location of metastases, in addition to ultrasound diagnostics, x-rays, fluorography, scintigraphy are prescribed.
Treatment of liver tumor
If the patient is exposed to liver cancer of grade 4, the oncologist can only offer palliative care. Carrying out an operation and even organ transplantation will not help to recover, since the presence of metastases in remote areas of the body does not contribute to recovery.
Special attention is paid to the maintenance of the function of the liver, kidneys, heart and brain.
The patient is prescribed narcotic analgesics, intravenously injected nutrient mixtures, if necessary, prescribed albumin and blood transfusion. Widespread use of plasmapheresis, ultra-hemofiltration, hemosorption.
A number of drugs are prescribed to prevent the development of thromboembolism, heart attacks, strokes. Some patients are given palliative surgery to stop the growth of the tumor.
These include chemoembolization, this surgical intervention consists in the introduction of a certain drug in the blood vessel of the tumor, which stops the blood flow and destroys the cancer cells. The operation is prescribed and when there are complications of grade 4 cancer - intestinal obstruction, internal bleeding.
Chemotherapy is ineffective. Chemopreparations can be used only in a small dosage. Folk methods of cancer treatment can only slightly ease the patient's well-being.
Dietary food
The organism of patients with liver cancer of the 4th stage is severely depleted and weakened, so food should be organized in such a way that a person has enough strength to fight the disease, and important organs continued as long as possible to function.
Dishes should be easily digestible, use should be made for their preparation those products that contribute to the removal of toxins from the body and the escape of bile.
There are several basic recommendations that oncologists advise to adhere to in liver cancer:
- It is necessary to eat small portions, but often - up to 8 times a day.
- Digestive stimulation is required. This is achieved by eating raw vegetable products at the beginning of the meal, ready meals are consumed after them.
- Most of the diet should be vegetables, fruits, greens, berries. Limit only the use of tomatoes, and the hard skin of the fruit pre-clean.
- Wheat germ, which is a source of microelements, stimulates digestion and immunity, should be regularly included in nutrition. Daily it is necessary to eat vegetable, cereal soups. Do not recommend only soups on a hard-boiled meat broth.
- The liver cells are well cleaned with fresh carrot juice, it should be drunk every day for half a cup. For the organism, other freshly squeezed juices are also useful.
- Useful foods rich in fiber - brown rice, bread from coarse grinding flour, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge.
- For cancer patients, protein is needed, it is found in fish, poultry, and low-fat meat.
- Dishes are steamed, cooking, stewing, baking is allowed.
- Of fats, only vegetable is preferred.
- Two or three times a week you need to eat an omelet from two eggs, this dish well stops weight loss.
- Daily on the menu should be sour-milk products.
- Appetite is improved by eating soaked cabbage or herring.
- Confectionery products allowed jam, pastille, useful and honey.
- Drink best herbal teas, compotes, broth of wild rose.
Refuse completely when liver cancer is needed from:
- Alcohol.
- Chocolate.
- Coffee.
- Cakes and cakes.
- Spicy seasonings.
- Fatty fish and meat.
- Fried dishes.
- Marinated dishes, smoked products, too salty foods.
- Bean.
- Nut.
- Semi-finished products and products enriched with various additives.
How many patients live
The prognosis for liver cancer is the last, that is, 4 stages, the most unfavorable.
The literature also describes cases of complete suspension of the development of cancer in the last stages, so you should never abandon the treatment offered by doctors.