Liver metastasis is cancer that started in another part of the body and spread to the liver. It’s sometimes called secondary liver cancer or metastatic liver disease. Liver metastasis is not the same as cancer that starts in the liver (called primary liver cancer). Liver metastasis is much more common than primary liver cancer.
Prevention of liver Metastasis
Different factors cause different types of cancer. Researchers continue to look into what factors cause this type of cancer. Although there is no proven way to completely prevent this disease, you may be able to lower your risk. Talk with your doctor for more information about your personal risk of cancer.
You can lower your risk for developing liver cancer by following healthy lifestyle measures, such as regular exercise, controlling your weight, and eating a healthy diet with limited amounts of alcohol.
HCC can usually be avoided by preventing viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. A vaccine can protect healthy people from contracting hepatitis B
Most industrialized countries have regulations to protect people from cancer-causing chemicals.
It’s also important to avoid infection with the hepatitis B and C viruses.
Protect against Hepatitis B and C Infection
If hepatitis B isn’t treated, hepatitis B infection can lead to cirrhosis (scarring), liver failure, and cancer. Vaccines for hepatitis B are available for children and adults. If you are at risk for hepatitis B or C infection, consider undergoing a screening test.
If you have chronic hepatitis B, you might be a candidate for antiviral therapy, which can slow down the progression of liver disease and decrease (although not eliminate) the risk of liver cancer. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, the right treatment can eliminate the virus in most people.
If you have chronic hepatitis, you should visit your doctors for regular surveillance with imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI.
There is increasing evidence that certain medications can control chronic hepatitis B or C infection. This can reduce the inflammation and damage these viruses cause in the liver. There have been major advances in recent years in antiviral therapy, particularly for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. This is likely to have a major positive impact on liver cancer prevention, particularly if taken before cirrhosis develops. For information about these types of treatments, it is important to talk with a hepatologist. A hepatologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the liver.
Because NAFLD linked to obesity is becoming an increasingly important risk factor for HCC, people are also encouraged to follow established guidelines for good health, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and participating in moderate physical activity. Your doctor can help you create an appropriate exercise plan based on your needs, physical abilities, and fitness level.
References:
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic-rectal-prolapse
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/liver-cancer/risk-factors-and-prevention
http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/metastatic-cancer/liver-metastases/?region=on
