Liver cancer is a type of cancer that originates in your liver cells. Your liver, an organ about the size of a football, is in the upper right side of your abdomen, above your stomach and below your diaphragm. It assists with digestion and detoxification.
Types of liver cancer
Primary liver cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the liver. There are several types:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or hepatoma is the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer, and it begins in the liver’s major cell type, the hepatocytes.
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer, begins in the lining cells of the bile ducts (which connect the liver to the bowel and gall bladder).
- Angiosarcoma is a cancer that originates in blood vessels. This is an uncommon form of liver cancer affecting adults over 70.
Secondary liver cancer begins in another place in the body but spreads to the liver. It is named after the initial place where it originated, such as colon cancer with secondary liver sites.
Liver cancer has a 19% five-year survival rate.