Two types of cancer, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, make up 90 per cent of all esophageal cancers. Esophageal cancer can occur in any section of the esophagus. Most cancers in the top part of the esophagus are squamous cell cancers. They are called this because the cells lining the top part of the esophagus are squamous cells. Squamous means scaly.

Most cancers at the end of the esophagus that joins the stomach are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas are often found in people who have a condition called Barrett’s.

Get more information about Esophageal Cancer.

Alt. names: Hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver will function normally with only a small portion of it in working order.

Liver cancer can be a primary cancer (starts in the liver) or a secondary cancer (starts in another part of the body and spreads to the liver).

Primary liver cancers

Primary liver cancer is one of the less common cancers. It is more common in men and people aged over 60 years. Most primary liver cancers are called hepatocellular carcinoma, as they start in liver cells called hepatocytes. Others start in a bile duct and are called cholangiocarcinoma.

In the western world, most people who develop primary liver cancer also have cirrhosis of the liver. This is scarring of the liver which is due to a variety of causes including heavy alcohol drinking over a long period of time. However, only a small proportion of people who have cirrhosis of the liver develop primary liver cancer. Infection with hepatitis B, C or D can also increase the risk of developing cirrhosis and, later, primary liver cancer.

Secondary liver cancers

Secondary liver cancer is the most common liver cancer in the western world. A secondary liver cancer is a cancer that starts somewhere else in the body and spreads (metastasizes) to the liver. Most cancers can spread to the liver but the common ones are breast, stomach and bowel cancers. These liver cancers are named after the primary cancer.
For example, breast cancer that has spread to the liver is called metastatic breast cancer. Sometimes, the liver cancer is discovered first, which leads to the diagnosis of the primary cancer.

Symptoms

Liver cancer usually has no symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms can include:

• Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Fever
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling of the abdomen

Diagnosis methods

Liver cancer is usually diagnosed with a number of different tests, which may include:

• Blood tests – to check your general health and to check for a chemical (AFP), which is usually found in increased levels in people with a certain type of primary liver cancer
• Ultrasound– a picture of the liver is taken using sound waves
• CT scan – a specialised x-ray taken from many different angles to build a three-dimensional picture of the body
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – similar to a CT scan but uses magnetism instead of x-rays to build a picture of the body
• Liver biopsy – a small piece of liver tissue is removed with a needle and examined for cancer cells
• Laparoscopy – a small cut in the lower abdomen allows a thin mini-telescope (laparoscope) to be inserted to look at the liver and take a sample of the liver tissue. If the tests show you have secondary liver cancer (and you did not know that you had a primary cancer), you may need further tests to find out where the primary cancer is

Treatment options

Treatment for liver cancer will depend on whether it is a primary or secondary cancer. Treatment options may include:

• Surgery – to remove the cancer and as much damaged tissue as possible. This is the main treatment for primary liver cancer. It is only useful for secondary liver cancer if the cancer cells only affect one part of the liver
• Chemotherapy – either tablets or injections of anti-cancer drugs. Sometimes they are injected directly into the artery that feeds the tumor in the liver (hepatic arterial infusion). It is the main treatment for secondary liver cancer and sometimes used for primary liver cancer
• Radiotherapy – x-rays are used to target and kill cancer cells. It may help in treating some types of primary liver cancers and may be used to relieve symptoms of pain and discomfort from secondary liver cancer

Pancreatic cancer starts in the cells of the duct and spreads into the body of the pancreas. Nearby blood vessels and nerves may be invaded. Without treatment, this type of cancer will spread to every abdominal organ and to other parts of the body, via the lymphatic system. The causes are unknown, but risk factors may include:

• Cigarette smoking
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Advancing age (over 65 years)

Symptoms

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often vague and can appear similar to those caused by other conditions. This means that pancreatic cancer is often not diagnosed until it is quite advanced. Some of the common symptoms may include:

• Persistent pain in the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Jaundice, if the bile duct is blocked
• Back pain (in some cases)

Diagnosis

If pancreatic cancer is suspected, your doctor will refer you for tests. Diagnosis may require the following:

• CT scan – a special x-ray taken from many different angles, to build a three-dimensional picture of your body. A dye may be injected to further highlight internal organs
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – similar to a CT scan but uses magnetism instead of x-rays to build three-dimensional pictures of your body
• Ultrasound – sound waves create a picture of your pancreas
• Endoscopy – a thin telescope is inserted down your throat to allow the doctor to see inside your digestive system
• Laparoscopy – the internal organs are examined with an instrument inserted into the abdomen through a small cut
• Tissue biopsy – a small sample of the pancreas is removed with a needle and examined in a laboratory

Treatment

Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on your age and general health, the size and location of the cancer, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. You may receive one type of treatment or a combination. Generally, options include:

• Surgery – is used when the cancer has not spread beyond the pancreas. The cancer and part of the pancreas and part of the small bowel are removed in an operation called ‘Whipple’s resection’. Some of the bile ducts, gall bladder and stomach may also be removed
• Radiotherapy – radiation is used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the body
• Chemotherapy – either tablets or injections of anti-cancer drugs may be used after surgery

Why should I be concerned about breast cancer?

It seems like we’ve all been affected by breast cancer at some point in our lives, whether we have had it, or have had a family member or friend who’s battled it. Every woman has a chance of getting breast cancer. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women and the disease we fear most. As scared as we are, you can try to remember that if you find breast cancer early, it can often be treated successfully. Many women have overcome breast cancer and are living life to its fullest!

Where can I learn more about breast cancer?

For More Information…

National Cancer Institute
Cancer Information Service
Tel: (800) 422-6237
Web site: www.cancer.gov

National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
Tel: (888) 842-6355 (select option 7)
Web site: www.cdc.gov

American Cancer Society
Tel: (800) ACS-2345
Web site: www.cancer.org

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Tel: (800) 462-9273
Web site: www.komen.org