Liver Cancer & Liver Cirrhosis: The Connection

The connection between liver cancer and liver cirrhosis is a simple and mostly causative one. The interconnection between the two is a strong one and the occurrence of one make the other more likely to occur, as per scientific studies. Most often, cirrhosis comes first, as a result of liver damage, majorly caused by chronic infections such as Hep B or C, alcoholism and substance abuse. This eventuates in cirrhosis, wherein the solid normal tissue of the metabolic liver organ is replaced by fibrous meshwork incapable of performing the many important liver function. Scientists have recently established that liver cirrhosis is the biggest known risk factor for liver cancer.

In the US, over 70 percent of liver cancer patients develop this condition because of previously suffering from liver cirrhosis, which refers to a kind of 'internal scarring' in the liver, according to Prof George Wu of Connecticut University Medical Centre. Extensive damage to the liver occurring during scarring promotes conversion of normal liver cells to cancerous cells.

While alcohol abuse, the primary cause of cirrhosis in the United States of America, is a reversible addiction if ceased early on, beyond a certain point, cirrhosis is irreversible. As per Dr. Wu's findings, once the irreversible point is breached, a person has basically committed to a 40x increased risk of developing liver cancer compared to the person sitting next to him on the tube.

It is a well-known fact that falling into the throws of alcohol addiction is going down a sad path of destruction that most likely ends in death from liver cancer or liver failure. It is also interesting to note here that the basic unit average of alcohol one must consume to cause cirrhosis is a value that varies by individual and between the genders too. As a woman, 2-3 drinks per day over years places one at risk. The threshold is higher for males at 3-4 drinks daily for many years.

Substance abuse and the traumas of withdrawal symptoms that follow as professionals seek to treat the addiction can be severely debilitating. Most patients will not survive the ordeal, and if they do, the scars of the experience remain with them for the rest of their lives. The best solution to avoid developing liver cancer, liver cirrhosis and alcohol dependency is through prevention and control. Follow us today for more information and interesting articles on drug abuse conditions and the available treatment.