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LIVER CANCER


Overview


The liver is a key organ in the body that performs many important functions.
  • It produces bile, which breaks down the fats in food so that they can be absorbed from the bowel
  • Helps process fats and proteins
  • Stores glycogen which is made from sugars to fuel the body. Glycogen is broken down into glucose and released into the blood stream when required by the body
  • Makes proteins that are essential for blood to clot
  • Helps to process alcohol, some medicines, toxins and poisons to remove them from the body.

Statistics


More than 1,000 people are diagnosed with primary liver cancer in Australia each year. These are cancers that arise from liver cells that have become malignant.

In addition to these people there are those who have secondary liver cancers - originating from cancers from other organs such as the colon or rectum spreading to the liver (metastases). This will occur in about 40% of people suffering from bowel cancer.