According to the American Cancer Society, liver cancer usually does not cause symptoms until the cancer is in its later stages, therefore it is seldom found early. Also, there are no screening tests for liver cancer, and small tumors are hard to find by physical exams.
Liver cancers can sometimes be found using a blood test for a protein called AFP (alpha-fetoprotein). It is normal for AFP to be found in the blood of fetuses, but it disappears shortly after birth. If it is found in the blood of adults it suggests they may have a liver cancer.
Many patients who develop liver cancer have had cirrhosis for a long time. If a patient with cirrhosis gets worse for no apparent reason, liver cancer may be the cause. The doctor would then look at testing for it.
Ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of internal organs such as the liver.
del.icio.us
Digg this
