Liver Cancer is the most common cancer in Saudi Arabia, causing 10.2% of all cancer cases among males and 4.1% among females, according to the National Cancer Records in King Faisal Specialized Hospital and Research Center. As for its international distribution, the Chairman of the International Liver Tumors Study Foundation, Dr. Jamal Ismat, said that liver cancers are among the most common cancers in the world, ranking fifth on the list of common cancers with an incidence rate of 500,000 new cases every year, 80% of which occur in African and Asian countries. Dr. Jamal adds that liver cancer is the most common cancer in third world countries and the Middle East, due to the high frequency of viral hepatitis infections, with hepatitis B and C viruses, adding that the least common cause of liver cancers is the pollution of vegetarian foods with aflatoxin secreting fungi. Dr. Jamal also said that one of the main conditions that lead to liver cancer is liver cirrhosis, which might be caused by many factors. As for the symptoms of hepatic cancers, Dr. Jamal explained that patients will suffer from fatigue, generalized weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and swelling and skin and eye color might become yellowish if patients develop jaundice, a common complication of hepatic diseases. Early detection of liver cancer is significant in determining the outcome of treatment, especially in patients that suffer from hepatic viruses who must remain under strict medical supervision in which clinical examinations and liver function tests are conducted on a regular basis. This is necessary to detect a protein marker called “Alpha Vito Protein,” which is secreted by liver cancer cells. Additionally, regular x-rays, CT scans, MRIs and ultrasound screenings are necesssary. The treatment of liver cancer differs according to the stage of the disease and the general health of the patient. For example, an early stage tumor in a patient who is in otherwise good health can be removed surgically. The patient's prognosis in this case depends on the size and location of the tumor, but it is generally considered to be good. In the case of an advanced staged tumor, almost all therapeutic techniques are of no use when it comes to improving the patient's chances of survival. Or so it was believed, according to all the studies that were conducted before the discovery of the revolutionary drug “Nexavar.” The importance of Nexavar was proven in a comparison study that included 560 patients. The study determined that the drug is capable of prolonging a patient's life and controlling tumor growth for a longer period of time than any other drug. The high efficiency of the drug results from its ability to attack multiple sites in the tumor. It was approved by the FDA and the European Commission and it is now available in more than 50 countries. The drug also targets cellular growth and division of cancer cells, preventing the creation of vessels that feed the tumor and aid its spread, meaning that it combats tumor growth on more than one front. Yet, the best way to prevent further spread of liver cancer is protection against hepatic viruses. That can be achieved through vaccination against hepatitis, a procedure that has been implemented in the Kingdom since 1989, in addition to avoiding possible routes of infection and enhancing early detection and treatment. __
