Nutritional Immunology

The liver is one of the major organs responsible for removing toxins from the human body. Liver Cancer is common in Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. In Singapore, it is the fourth most common cancer among men. In its early stages, most patients may not experience any specific symptoms.

Warning signs:

• Loss of appetite and weight
• Weakness and fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal swelling or pain
• lump in the abdomen
• Yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of eyes (jaundice)

Who are at risk?

• Chronic carriers of Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus
• Those with liver cirrhosis
• Diabetics
• Family history of liver cancer
• Bile duct disease call primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Alcohol abuse can lead to liver cirrhosis and hence increases the risk of liver cancer

What can you do?

• Ultrasound scan every 6 months
• Blood test (alphafeto protein) every 6 months
• Get vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine to reduce risk of infection
• Prevent Hepatitis C by not engaging in unprotected sex, avoid body piercing and tattooing,  not abusing drugs or share intravenous drug needles
• Limit alcohol intake to less than one drink a day or avoid completely

Source of information: National University Cancer Institute, Singapore

Related Posts:

Cancer and You
Colorectal Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Lung Cancer
Reducing the Risk of Prostate Cancer through a Plant Base Diet

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high blood presssure, Jau-Fei Chen, phytochemicals

Posted on July 18th, 2011 by Jacklyn
Filed under: high blood presssure, Jau-Fei Chen, phytochemicals