Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) And BCLC Stage

Cancer is not clearly understand even if latest scientific developments. But in some cancer types are very strange and differ from others. Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) is methods help to change differ cancer types according to size and severity of tumor.

What is Liver Cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC))

Liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a type of cancer that begin in the liver, which is an organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen that have a very important role in the body’s metabolism, detoxification and digestion. Liver is made up of many cells, and when these cells develop genetic mutations, they can start to divide and grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor. As the tumor grows, it can invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs and bones.

There are several types of liver cancer but the mostly seen type is HCC, which starts in the liver’s main type of cell, called a hepatocyte. Risk factors for liver cancer include chronic infection with hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis, alcohol abuse and exposure to certain toxins. Symptoms of liver cancer include abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

Early liver cancer may not cause any symptoms, so it is often found during a routine examination or when being tested for another illness. To confirm the diagnosis, imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT or MRI scans and biopsy may be used. Treatment options for liver cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy and the choice of treatment will depend on the stage and the general health condition of the patient.

What Are The Early Warning Signs of Liver Cancer?

Early warning signs of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC) can vary from person to person and may not be present at all in the early stages of the disease. However, some common early warning signs of liver cancer include:

Abdominal pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen, where the liver is located.
A lump or mass in the upper right side of the abdomen.
Weight loss or loss of appetite.
Fatigue and weakness.
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a substance that is normally excreted by the liver.
Nausea and vomiting.
Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen (ascites).
Itchiness due to accumulation of bile salts.

It’s important to remember that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions not just liver cancer. In most cases, early stage liver cancer may not cause any symptoms at all and it may only be found incidentally through an imaging test or a blood test. If you have any of these symptoms or have risk factors for liver cancer, such as chronic hepatitis B or C or cirrhosis, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider to determine the cause and appropriate course of action.

How Can You Prevent Liver Cancer And What is Advices Against Liver Cancer?

There are several ways to reduce the risk of developing liver cancer. Here are some advices for:

Avoid Viral Hepatitis: The most common cause of liver cancer is chronic infection with the hepatitis B or C virus. Be very careful and avoid infection with these viruses is the best way to prevent liver cancer. Vaccination against hepatitis B is available and can prevent infection.
Limit Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can cause cirrhosis of the liver, which is a biggest risk factor for liver cancer. It is recommended to limit alcohol intake or avoid it altogether.
Healthy Diet: Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods and saturated fats may help reduce the risk of liver cancer.
Healthy Weight: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of liver cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce the risk. Also as you know, healthy diet and regular exercise is very important overall health conditions.
Avoid Exposure to Toxins: Exposure to certain toxins and chemicals, such as aflatoxins (found in contaminated food), pesticides and certain industrial chemicals can increase the risk of liver cancer. It is important to limit exposure to these toxins as much as possible.
Avoid Tobacco: Smoking or using any form of tobacco products increases the risk of liver cancer as well as other health risk.
Get Tested and Treated For Any Underlying Medical Conditions: If you have a condition such as chronic hepatitis B or C or cirrhosis, it is important to be tested and treated as early as possible, as these conditions can increase the risk of liver cancer.

It is also important to have regular check-ups with your doctor and if you have any risk factors for liver cancer, you should be screened for it. Early detection and treatment can improve the chances of survival.

What is Survival Rate For Liver Cancer ?

Survival rate for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC) varies depending on several factors, including the stage of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, and the treatment received.

In general, the survival rate for liver cancer is lower compared to other types of cancer due to its often being diagnosed at a later stage. Survival rate for liver cancer is often measured using the 5-year survival rate, which is the percentage of patients who are alive 5 years after their diagnosis.

The 5-year survival rate for liver cancer can range from less than 5% for advanced stages (BCLC stage C and D) to as high as 20-30% for early stages (BCLC stage A) if treated with curative intent. However, it should be noted that many patients with early stage liver cancer may not have symptoms and are often discovered incidentally.

It is important to know that these figures are general statistics and cannot predict an individual’s outcome. Survival rate depends on many factors such as the size of the tumor, the number of tumors, the location of the tumors and the patient’s overall health condition. A combination of treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy can improve survival rate.

It is also important to remember that early detection and treatment of liver cancer can improve the chances of survival, so it is important to be aware of the risk factors, signs and symptoms and to consult with a healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

What is Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC staging)?

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system is a mostly used system for classifying liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC) into different stages based on the size and spread of the tumor as well as the overall health conditons of the patient. The BCLC system is designed to help guide treatment decisions and predict patient outcomes. Stages range from early-stage (0 and A) to advanced (B, C and D) and the treatment options and prognosis change accordingly.

What is BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer) stages?

BCLC stages are:

0: Very early stage HCC that is not visible on imaging but can be found by biopsy or other ways. Patients with HCC 0 have a small number of very small tumors (less than 2 cm) that have not spread to nearby blood vessels or organs. HCC 0 is considered a highly curable stage and these patients are considered good candidates for surgery or local therapy such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI).

It’s important to note that HCC 0 is not visible on imaging, so it is usually discovered when patient undergoes an evaluation or a biopsy for another condition. HCC 0 is a rare stage, accounting for less than 1% of the cases.

A: Early-stage HCC that is confined to the liver and can be treated with curative intent some methods such as surgery or local therapy. Patients with HCC A have a single tumor that is less than 5 cm in diameter and has not spread to nearby blood vessels or organs. They also have no significant liver dysfunction and good performance status.Treatment options for HCC A include surgery, such as liver resection or transplantation and local therapies such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI).

It is important to note that early stage liver cancer may not cause any symptoms, so it is often found during a routine examination or when being tested for another condition. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the chances of survival for HCC A patients.

B: Intermediate stage HCC with either one or more tumors that are larger than 5 cm or multiple tumors that are smaller than 5 cm and can’t be treated with curative intent. Patients with HCC B have one or more tumors that are larger than 5 cm in diameter or multiple tumors that are smaller than 5 cm and have not spread to nearby blood vessels or organs, but cannot be treated with curative intent. They also have no significant liver dysfunction and good performance status. Treatment options for HCC B include systemic therapy (such as sorafenib) or local therapy (such as RFA or PEI) with a goal of controlling the disease and improving symptoms. Surgery is not considered curative at this stage. Early detection and treatment can improve the chances of survival for HCC B patients.

C: Advanced HCC that has spread to nearby organs or distant parts of the body. Patients with HCC C have tumors that have spread to nearby organs or distant parts of the body and have significant liver dysfunction and poor performance status. They are not suitable for curative treatment options like surgery or local therapy. Treatment options for HCC C include systemic therapy (such as sorafenib) or local therapy (such as RFA or PEI) with a goal of controlling the disease and improving symptoms, as well as palliative care.

It is important to remember that advanced stage liver cancer may cause severe symptoms and a poor quality of life, so it is often found in advanced stages. The prognosis for HCC C patients is generally poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%.

D: End-stage HCC with significant liver dysfunction and weak performance status, not suitable for any treatments. Stage D is the most advanced stage of HCC, characterized by the presence of distant metastases or extrahepatic spread of the cancer. Patients with stage D HCC typically have a poor prognosis and may require palliative or hospice care, rather than curative treatment.

The BCLC stages help guide treatment decisions and predict patient outcomes. The treatment options and prognosis differ for each stage, for example, stage A is curable with surgery or local therapy, while stage D is end-stage and not suitable for treatments.

What is PST in BCLC?

PST, or “performance status” is a component of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC). PST is a way to evaluate a patient’s overall health and ability to tolerate treatment.

In the BCLC staging system, PST is used to classify patients into two groups: those with good performance status (PST 0) and those with poor performance status (PST 1). Good performance status is defined as the ability to carry out normal daily activities and having no major symptoms. Poor performance status is defined as the inability to carry out normal daily activities and having significant symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness or weight loss.

PST score is important in determining the appropriate treatment and prognosis for patients with liver cancer. Patients with good performance status are generally considered to be good candidates for more aggressive treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy, while those with poor performance status may be best suited for palliative care or supportive therapy.

It is important to note that the PST is not a standalone criteria for the treatment decision, it is used in combination with the BCLC staging system, imaging, and other lab test to decide the best treatment plan for each individual patient.

If you want to checkup prostate cancer and breast cancer below pages is for you: