Certain types of cancer can be found before they cause symptoms. Screening can help doctors find and treat some types of cancer early. Generally, cancer treatment is more effective when the disease is found early enough.
The liver is the largest organ inside the body. It is a very important metabolic organ and continuously break down harmful substances e.g. alcohol, drugs, etc. inside human body. The organ is situated in the upper right part of the abdomen. Liver cancer results from abnormal growth of liver cells. The most common liver cancer is Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) which accounts for over half of all liver cancer death cases locally.
Am I at risk of liver cancer?
The major risk factors for liver cancer include:
- Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- Cirrhosis
- Alcohol consumption
- Ingestion of food contaminated with aflatoxin (a toxin found in some food, such as moldy peanuts and grains)
Other risk factors include diabetes, obesity, smoking and certain hereditary conditions such as haemochromatosis, glycogen storage disease and Wilson’s disease.
What are the common symptoms of liver cancer?
Early stage of liver cancer usually has no symptoms and may not be easily noticed. Common symptoms include unexplainable weight loss, yellowing of skin and eye, nausea, dark urine, pale stool, abdominal pain and swelling.
You should consult a doctor as soon as possible if you develop any of the above symptoms.
How to reduce the chance of getting liver cancer?
- Vaccinate against HBV
- Avoid alcohol consumption
- Avoid smoking
- Practice safer sex
- Do not share needles
- Avoid food source possibly tainted with aflatoxins, particularly mouldy looking peanuts and grains
- Maintain healthy diet and body weight
What is liver cancer screening?
The purpose of liver cancer screening is to detect liver cancer early well before development of symptoms so as to maximize benefit of early treatment.
Two common tests used for this purpose are:
-
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test:
When liver cancer cells grow continuously, the blood AFP level may increase. However, blood AFP level is frequently normal during early stage and thus may not be reliable for detecting small liver cancer.
On the other hand, blood AFP level can also be raised in conditions other than liver cancer.
-
Abdominal ultrasound (USG):
Ultrasound uses reflected sound waves to produce an image of the organs and other structures in the upper abdomen including liver. However it may not be able to detect small liver tumor. Its performance is affected by various factors such as abdominal fatness. It may be used in conjunction with AFP test to give more informative results
Liver Cancer Screening at CIH
| Tests included | |
| Medical consultation | |
| Comprehensive medical history & physical examinations |  |
| Specialist consultation | |
| Hepatitis Screening | |
| HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) | |
| HBsAb or anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody) | |
| HCVAb (Hepatitis C virus antibodies) | |
| AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein), Quantitative | |
| Diagnostic Imaging | |
| Abdominal ultrasound | |
| Total cost of the individual tests (VND) | 1,810,000 |
| Package Price (VND) | 1,500,000 |
Sign up for your screening at City International Hospital's registration counter or call 028.6280.3333 (ext .8424 or 8402) for instruction
Should I get screened?
Routine liver cancer screening is not recommended for persons at average risk. People with chronic HBV infection, chronic HCV infection or liver cirrhosis are at increased risk of liver cancer. Depending on certain criteria such as age, family history, presence of cirrhosis and other clinical parameters, some subgroups are at higher risk and should consider receiving periodic cancer surveillance (e.g. every 6—12 months) with AFP and USG. People with chronic HBV and HCV infection, or liver cirrhosis should thus seek advice from doctors to determine their need for and approach of cancer surveillance.
Early Detection Saves Lives
For people living with chronic hepatitis B infections, early detection of liver cancer greatly improves the chances of survival after treatment. For patients in whom liver cancer is detected at an early stage and before symptoms occur - while the tumor is small and can be surgically removed - the 5-year survival rate can sometimes be more than 50%.
If you have cirrhosis or other known risk factors for liver cancer, make sure your health care provider screens you for liver cancer during your medical visits, before you have any symptoms. Finding the cancer early may increase the chance of successful treatment. Your health care provider may refer you to a hepatologist, a doctor who specializes in liver diseases. Hepatologists have the most experience in managing chronic hepatitis B and C infections, including regular screening for liver cancer.
Liver Cancer Screening at CIH
| Tests included | |
| Medical consultation | |
| Comprehensive medical history & physical examinations | |
| Specialist consultation | |
| Hepatitis Screening | |
| HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) | |
| HBsAb or anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody) | |
| HCVAb (Hepatitis C virus antibodies) | |
| AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein), Quantitative | |
| Diagnostic Imaging | |
| Abdominal ultrasound | |
| Total cost of the individual tests (VND) | 1,810,000 |
| Package Price (VND) | 1,500,000 |
Sign up for your screening at City International Hospital's registration counter or call 028.6280.3333 (ext .8424 or 8402) for instruction
For appointment or more information about the services provided, please contact City International Hospital
- Operator: (8428) 6280 3333, ext. 0
- Address: Level 3, No. 3, 17A Street, Binh Tri Dong B Ward, Binh Tan Dist. (Next to AEON Mall Binh Tan). Ho Chi Minh City.
- Website: https://cih.com.vn/en/
