The liver continuously filters our blood...turning the good stuff that was absorbed from the digestive system into a useable form while at the same time removing toxins and other chemical waste from the blood so they can be excreted. Since all the blood in the body must pass through it, the liver is unusually accessible to cancer cells traveling in the bloodstream. Most liver cancer is in fact, secondary - as with my dad. However 2% of cancers in the US are primary liver cancers - meaning it starts in the liver.
Livers damaged by birth defects, alcohol abuse, or infection such as hepatitis B and C, and cirrhosis are prime candidates. According to WebMD.com, more than half of all people diagnosed with primary liver cancer have cirrhosis. Liver cancer may also be linked to obesity and...fatty liver disease.
There's that disease again...the one which launched this blog...the one responsible for the weight loss so I can hopefully get it under control.
How serious is liver cancer? The last I heard the relative 5 year survival rate is 15%. Wow. Read that again. 15%. Part of the reason being that most folks either have other liver problems, or the cancer started elsewhere and the patient has already been compromised by chemo or radiation. The numbers do improve if surgery to remove the cancer in the liver is a possibility...or if the cancer is in the early stage and they are able to have a liver transplant. Wonder how long the wait is on THAT list!
So let me put those words together, so the next time I just want to throw in the towel, I have this sentence with me. Repeat after me: Liver cancer may be linked to fatty liver disease and the 5 year survival rate is 15%. I can picture how my dad looked the last few weeks...and days of his life. Hopefully my readers do not have that mental image.
Happy Birthday Dad. I'm trying.
Weight Lost This Week: 0.8 lbs.
Total Weight Lost: 12.2 lbs.
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