Will Hepatitis B with e-antigen positive develop into liver cancer?

Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
Updated on September 21, 2024
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A small portion of patients with hepatitis B major yang can develop into liver cancer, but this development process is generally long. Primary liver cancer is currently the fourth most common malignant tumor in China, and the third leading cause of tumor death, seriously threatening the lives and health of our people. Primary liver cancer includes three types, of which hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for more than 85% to 90%. A large part of patients with primary liver cancer in China, most of whom have a background of chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis.

Other Voices

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Symptoms of late-stage liver cancer deterioration

If liver cancer reaches an advanced stage, many symptoms will appear. For example, there will be pain in the liver area due to the tumor's growth pulling on the liver capsule, causing persistent swelling in the upper right part or stomach pain. If the tumor invades the pectoral muscles, it may cause referred pain in the right shoulder or back. Some patients may experience an enlarged liver due to the increased size of the tumor, which feels painful when pressed. Additionally, the increase and pressure from the tumor can obstruct bile excretion, leading to jaundice, and symptoms of cirrhosis may also appear. In general, the main symptoms of advanced liver cancer include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss. If the condition worsens, metastatic symptoms may occur; lung metastasis can cause the patient to cough and expel phlegm, and bone metastasis can cause localized pain and lumps.

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Written by Yan Chun
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Does early-stage liver cancer cause itchy skin?

Liver cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in the digestive system. In the early stages of liver cancer, most patients do not exhibit symptoms of skin itching. It is only when the cancer progresses and causes obstructive jaundice that patients clinically develop symptoms of skin itching. Early-stage liver cancer patients typically do not show typical clinical symptoms, or they may not have any significant symptoms at all. This is because early-stage liver cancer lesions are small and localized, without external invasion or metastasis. Therefore, the impact on the entire body is minimal, and clinically it generally manifests as mild abdominal bloating, discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, and some patients may experience a dull ache or discomfort in the liver area. Because the symptoms of early-stage liver cancer are atypical, many patients are already in the middle to late stages by the time they seek medical attention, missing the opportunity for clinical cure.

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Written by Si Li Li
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Is alpha-fetoprotein 9 liver cancer?

If alpha-fetoprotein is at 9, the possibility of liver cancer is not high, because an alpha-fetoprotein level of 9 is not considered high. Generally, if alpha-fetoprotein exceeds 300, the likelihood of liver cancer becomes significant. Elevated alpha-fetoprotein can occur in common liver diseases, such as during acute episodes of chronic, active hepatitis, and also in liver cancer. Additionally, some other malignant tumors can also show elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels. When we detect elevated alpha-fetoprotein, the first step is to clearly diagnose the disease, which may involve tests such as hepatitis B serology or DNA testing. Imaging tests like abdominal ultrasounds can help determine the specific disease, followed by targeted treatment.

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What are the early symptoms of liver cancer?

The early symptoms of liver cancer lack specificity, so in clinical practice, early-stage liver cancer is generally detected only during routine screenings or physical examinations. By the time patients present with noticeable symptoms and seek medical attention, the cancer is often in the intermediate or advanced stages, making surgical removal unlikely for most patients. The early symptoms might include non-specific signs such as fatigue. It is usually only in the intermediate or advanced stages that patients experience obvious symptoms like pain in the liver area, palpable abdominal masses, abdominal distension, weight loss, and jaundice. By the time these symptoms appear, it is typically quite late, corresponding to the intermediate or advanced stages of the disease. Early stages typically do not show specific symptoms, though some patients might experience mild abdominal pain, bloating, or fatigue, which are not very specific signs.

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Which is more treatable, primary liver cancer or metastatic liver cancer?

Primary liver cancer refers to malignant tumors that originate in the liver, while metastatic liver cancer refers to malignant tumors from other parts of the body that have spread to the liver. As to which is easier to treat, it is generally difficult to determine and depends on the control of the primary lesion in cases of metastatic liver cancer; both might be challenging to treat. However, if the lesion in primary liver cancer is relatively small, there may still be an opportunity for surgical treatment. In general, metastatic liver cancer is not amenable to curative surgery because the primary lesion also requires treatment. But in terms of the rate of progression or severity, metastatic liver cancer might progress more slowly, while primary liver cancer generally progresses quite rapidly, making it also very difficult to treat.