Info
Liver cancer
Basics
What it means
Cancer that starts in the cells of the liver, most commonly hepatocellular carcinoma. It often develops against the background of chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis B or C.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Adenocarcinoma
- A subtype of carcinoma that arises in glandular cells, that is, cells that produce or secrete certain substances. It can appear in organs such as the lung, colon, pancreas or prostate.
- Benign tumor
- A growth that does not invade the surrounding tissues and does not produce metastases. Although it may sometimes need treatment or monitoring, a benign tumor is not considered cancer.
- Bladder cancer
- Cancer that develops in the lining of the bladder. The most common sign is blood in the urine (hematuria), often painless. Smoking is the main risk factor.
Other terms in “Basics”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.