The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. It carries out functions that are vital for life, such as producing essential proteins, processing nutrients, and detoxification. Liver cancer is a cancer that originates in the liver. It is a common disease in Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Korea. Liver cancer in Singapore is a common cancer among men.
Learn More: Liver, Pancreas And Gallbladder Conditions >>
Fact #1: Liver Cancer Is A Top 5 Cancer For Men
According to the latest Singapore Cancer Registry (2022 Annual report), liver cancer in Singapore is the 5th most common cancer among men, accounting for 7.1% of cancers diagnosed between 2018-2022. It is not within the top 10 most common cancers for women.
Fact #2: Liver Cancer Causes A Disproportionally Larger Number of Deaths
In terms of mortality, liver cancer is responsible for 12.2% of cancer deaths in men during the same 2018-2022 period. Liver cancer in women is the 5th most common type of cancer resulting in deaths (5.8%). This is despite it not being within the top 10 most common cancers in women.
Fact #3: Liver Cancer Has A Five-Year Age-Standardised Relative Survival Rate (ASRS)
The ASRS for liver cancer for 2018 – 2022 is low, at 26.8% for males. However, there has been substantial improvement over years. The ASRS for 1998- 2002 was just 9.5%. The Cancer Registry did not provide corresponding statistics for females.
Fact #4: A Larger Proportion Of Liver Cancer Is Now Detected Earlier
Only 11.4% of liver cancers in males were diagnosed at Stage I during the period 2003 – 2007. This improved to 36.1% for the period 2018 – 2022. The Cancer Registry did not provide corresponding statistics for females.
Fact #5: There Are Different Types of Liver Cancer
Cancer in the liver is referred to as being ‘primary’ when it starts in the liver. On the other hand, if the cancer is referred to as ‘secondary’, it means that it is a cancer that has spread (metastasised) to the liver from another area of the body (such as the lung, colon or breast). Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common than cancer that begins in the liver cells.
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) or hepatoma, is the most common type of primary liver cancer. It begins in the main cell type in the liver, the hepatocytes.
- Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma, or Bile Duct Cancer, begins in the cells lining the bile ducts (which link the liver to the bowel and gall bladder).
- Angiosarcoma and Hemangiosarcoma, are cancers which start in the blood vessels of the liver.
- Hepatoblastoma is a very rare type of cancer that develops in children, usually those younger than 4 years old.
- Secondary cancers of the liver are named and treated based on its primary site (i.e. where it started). For instance, cancer that started in the lung and spread to the liver is called metastatic lung cancer, not liver cancer. Treatment given will also be as for lung cancer.
Protect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases with regular health screening. Compare and shop for health screenings from Singapore and regional healthcare providers at a single convenient platform - shop.health365.sg
This article is informative only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.