Liver Cancer, Signs To Look For

Many people die every year of this.

Hey folks,

The big news this past week was the passing of Boxing Legend, Joe Frazier, of Liver Cancer. He was just 67 years old. This has prompted many to look into just what Liver Cancer really is. What causes it. How its Treated. ETC.

Many people die every year of this. You do not have to be Famous. Some of what you know is true, but some more information is always good to have. So lets look at Liver Cancer today, in today's Health and Science Segment.

Of course, when you have someone like Joe Frazier die of Cancer, it gets the World's attention. According to Yahoo Health - What Caused Joe Frazier's Liver Cancer? By Lisa Collier Cool Nov 08, 2011

Former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier has lost his biggest fight—against liver cancer. Renowned for being the first to beat Muhammad Ali in the 1971 “Fight of the Century,” with a left hook seen around the world, Smokin’ Joe is also remembered for the dramatic rematch with his legendary rival, the 1975 Thrilla in Manila. The sports world was stunned to learn of the Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer’s death Monday at age 67—just one month after his diagnosis.

As recently as September, he was in Las Vegas signing autographs at the MGM Grand Hotel. Earlier this month, his health declined so rapidly that he reportedly began receiving hospice care. Here’s a look at the medical story behind his battle with liver cancer, which strikes about 24,000 Americans a year. Rates of the disease have been rising in the United States over the past several decades, the American Cancer Society reports, and, in other countries, it ranks as a leading cause of death.

I really do not have too much to add to this story. Check it out.

Who gets liver cancer?

The disease is about twice as common in men as women, with the highest rates among Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and African Americans, followed by Native Americans and Latinos. The disease typically strikes people in their 60s, like Frazier.

What are the risk factors?

In the U.S., the #1 risk factor is infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Frazier’s family hasn’t announced if he had HCV, a chronic disease that affects more than 4 million Americans. If he did have hepatitis C, there are several ways he could have caught it. The disease is usually spread through exposure to the blood of an infected person, which could have occurred during a boxing match, since the brutal sport frequently causes blood loss.

Common ways the virus is transmitted include using contaminated needles for IV drug abuse, medical injections, tattooing, or sharing personal items, like razors, with an infected person. Getting a blood transfusion before 1992—when screening of the U.S. blood supply for the virus began—is another possible scenario, since he could have received one to treat boxing injuries in the 1970s. HCV can also be spread through unprotected sex, but sexual transmission is much less common than infection through exposure to tainted blood.

What else can trigger liver cancer?

In other countries, infection with hepatitis B virus is the most common risk factor. HBV is spread in similar ways, but has a higher rate of sexual transmission than HCV. Hepatitis B is more likely to spark noticeable symptoms, such as a flu-like illness and yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice), while HCV can silently damage the liver over decades, sometimes leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Only a small percent of people with HBV become chronic carriers, while HCV frequently becomes a chronic infection. Other causes of liver cancer include heavy alcohol use, certain inherited metabolic diseases, diabetes (mainly in diabetics who drink heavily), obesity, exposure to toxic chemicals, and use of anabolic steroids, a particular risk factor for athletes.

So just to simplify it a bit. Causes?

HVC
Heavy Drinking of Alcohol
Inherited Metabolic Diseases
Diabetes
If you have Diabetes and Drink you INCREASE your Risk.
Exposure to Toxic Chemicals. {This COULD include Pesticides}
Use of Anabolic Steroids {Which is NOT something that is being attributed to Frazier}

What’s the prognosis for people with liver cancer?

The disease is often fatal within a year of diagnosis. Only 10 percent of people with all stages of the disease combined survive 5 years, and those with advanced disease, as seems to be the case with Frazier since he needed hospice care, the rate is only 2 percent, according to American Cancer Society.

Only a 10 percent Survival Rate? Please folks, pay attention to this.

What are the symptoms?

The main reason why liver cancer has such a poor prognosis is that it doesn’t have specific warning signs. It’s unusual for people with the disease to develop abdominal pain unless they have a very large tumor. Some patients have unexplained weight loss or fevers. When the disease reaches an advanced stage, patients may have sudden abdominal swelling due to fluid buildup, jaundice, or bleeding. During a medical exam, doctors may notice a tender or enlarged liver.

How is the disease diagnosed?

Compounding the difficulty is detecting this disease early, since it often doesn’t show up in routine blood tests, including tests of liver function. Tumors can be detected through imaging tests, like MRI and CT scans. If liver cancer is suspected, doctors will usually do a biopsy, followed by further imaging tests to determine the stage of the disease, if cancer is found.

What’s the treatment?

Treatments for liver cancer include surgery, a liver transplant, radiation therapy, freezing or heating cancer cells to kill them, and injecting chemotherapy drugs into the liver.

What are the best ways to prevent liver cancer?

You can reduce your risk by avoiding IV drug abuse, making sure that hygienic methods are used if you get a tattoo, limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption, not sharing personal items that might expose you to another person’s blood, such as toothbrushes and razors, maintaining a healthy weight, and practicing safe sex.

GREAT Job Lisa Collier Cool! Thanks for taking the time to Post this. Also see PubMed Health - A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia For even MORE information on Liver Cancer.

As I always say folks, if you have ANY questions, doubts, or concerns about your Health, PLEASE go see a Doctor. Early is best. Don't blow it off.
Peter

Sources:
Yahoo Health - What Caused Joe Frazier's Liver Cancer?
PubMed Health - A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia

God Speed Joe Frazier

Not often does one come along and change their Field of Endeavor.



Hey folks,

Joe DID. Smoking Joe Frazier was exactly that. He was an Icon in Boxing. He transcended Boxing in the 60s and 70s to become a national Hero. He won the Middle Atlantic Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championships in 1962, 1963 and 1964, then went on to become the USA's only recipient of a 1964 Olympic Boxing Gold Medal. Then in 1967, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his World Heavyweight Title due to his refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War, the New York State Athletic Commission held a bout between Frazier and Buster Mathis, with the Winner to be recognized as "World Champion" by the state of New York. The rest, as they say, is History.

Joe passed away last night from Liver Cancer at the age of 67. He was diagnosed less than six weeks ago and spent his final days in a Philadelphia-area hospice where he refused to have Visitors. His family released the following Statement

"We The Family of the 1964 Olympic Boxing Heavyweight Gold Medalist, Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame Member Smokin' Joe Frazier, regrets to inform you of his passing. He transitioned from this life as "One of God's Men," on the eve of November 7, 2011 at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We thank you for your prayers for our Father and vast outpouring of love and support.

Respectfully, we request time to grieve privately as a family. Our father's home going celebration will be announced as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding."

God speed Joe. And of course, to the Family, our heart and Prayers are with you. May you have the Peace and Comfort you need in this time.
Peter