ABSTRACT
Liver cancer occurs when normal cells that make up the liver (hepatocytes) change into abnormal cells and grow out of control. There are several risk factors for developing longstanding liver disease and subsequently liver cancer (HCC) such as viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse over many years, fatty liver disease as well as some rarer chronic inflammatory conditions. Early liver cancer unfortunately does not usually cause any symptoms to alert the patients and their doctors. A small number of patients may feel a lump or discomfort in their upper abdomen, feel full when eating, feel tired or lose weight. Liver resections to remove the cancer or liver transplantation are operations that may be considered in younger fitter patients. Surgery, in general, may be associated with infection, bleeding, pain, blood clots in the legs and the lungs, wound complications, organ failure, anaesthetic complications or even in few cases death.
