Benign Liver Tumor Treatment in Tice - Fort Myers, FL

It’s an imaginably stressful moment: hearing your healthcare provider say that you have a tumor. Thankfully, not all tumors turn out to be cancerous. Even non-cancerous (benign) tumors in the liver can cause problems, and can potentially become cancerous.

Benign liver tumors (also called benign liver lesions or masses) are abnormal liver cell groups. Unlike malignant (cancerous) tumors, a benign lesion cannot spread to other parts of the body.

There are three main types of benign liver tumors:

• hemangiomas: this most common form presents masses of swollen cells in the liver’s blood vessels
• focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH): the second most common type of benign liver tumor if formed by groups of rapidly-reproducing liver cells
• hepatocellular adenomas: the rarest of the three, these are abnormally-large liver cells with increased glycogen and lipids, but without bile ducts and portal areas

Benign liver tumors are quite common; up to 5% of U.S. adults may have small hemangiomas. In most cases, they won’t affect your health, and you may not even know that you have them.

If you start to feel symptoms like pain and digestive issues, you should talk to your healthcare provider about treatments like surgery to remove the tumors. To find a Tice - Fort Myers liver tumor specialist, call (239) 425-2900 or contact Root Causes Holistic Health & Medicine online.

Benign liver tumor Symptoms

Most benign liver tumors are not diagnosed because they don’t cause symptoms. Those that do have symptoms are usually large (5-6cm) or are close to other organs.

The most common symptom of benign liver tumors is abdominal pain. Other liver tumor symptoms include:

• bloating or swelling
• nausea
• vomiting
• a feeling of being full (which can lead to weight loss)
• fatigue
• jaundice
• fever

FNHs have no risk of becoming cancerous. Rarely, hemangiomas and hepatocellular adenomas can rupture and bleed, and the later can also become cancerous. When hemangiomas rupture, they may cause severe abdominal pain and internal bleeding. Ruptured hepatocellular adenomas can cause severe abdominal pain, low blood pressure, and internal bleeding.

Lifestyle changes that you can take to help prevent developing more serious conditions include:

• drinking alcohol in moderation
• exercising
• eating a healthy diet
• quitting smoking

Wearing condoms and not sharing needles can also protect you from hepatitis B Woman and people between the ages of 20-50 are most susceptible .

What causes benign liver tumors?

The exact cause of benign liver tumors is unknown, though genetic predisposition plays a role. Because FNHs (which do not become cancerous) present with an abnormally large blood vessel and fibrous scar tissue, they are thought to be formed during vascular injuries.

Hormonal imbalance is a well-documented cause of adenoma tumor development. Specific doses and durations of estrogen-based oral contraceptive use has been linked to liver cell adenoma. The incidence is highest in women over 30 years of age after using oral contraceptives for more than 2 years. It is estimated that the risk of growing an adenoma increases by a factor of 5 after 5 years, and by 25 after 9 years of oral contraceptive usage.

The increase in estrogen levels during the first trimester of pregnancy increases the chance of hemangiomas, as does hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms. Researchers have observed that estrogen attaches to estrogen receptors on the abnormal cells.

Hepatocellular adenomas are unrelated to oral contraceptive use. Risk factors of hepatocellular adenomas include:

• steroid or barbiturate use
• type 1 diabetes
• von Gierke disease
• Forbes disease
• metabolic syndrome

Factors that can increase the risk of tumors becoming cancerous include:

• hepatitis B or C
• cirrhosis
• hemochromatosis
• obesity

How are benign liver tumors diagnosed?

As most benign liver tumor patients do not experience symptoms, they often discover their tumor while undergoing imaging tests like ultrasound, CT test or MRI.

These imaging tests can detect:

• the size and location of the mass(es)
• blood clots in the portal and hepatic vein branches
• enlarged lymph nodes
• cirrhosis and cirrhosis complications

Blood tests are used to detect tumor markers, and a liver biopsy allows detailed lab analysis of a patient’s liver tissue.

Benign liver tumors treatments

As with any medical procedure, results ofbenign liver tumor treatments will vary from patient to patient depending on age, genetics, general health, condition severity, follow-up care, and environmental factors. The following surgical, nutritional, and botanical treatments may present contraindications with one another, and/or with other medical conditions. Always consult your healthcare professional before deciding which treatment to try first.

In most cases, a benign liver tumor will not grow or cause symptoms. If you have hepatocellular adenomas and are taking oral contraceptives, you should stop taking them – which may cause your tumor to shrink.

Continue your regular checkups so your healthcare provider can monitor the mass – if symptoms develop you may need treatment or surgery. In the meantime, you can maintain your liver health with botanical and vitamin therapies.

Botanical Medicine

A good number of botanicals have been able to biochemically address benign liver tumors by reducing cell growth, tumor size, and by preventing cancer development:

• curcumin: this active ingredient of turmeric stimulates molecular signaling which has been shown to have antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties; may cause nausea, diarrhea, or dizziness
• green tea: made from the dried leaves of the Camelia Sinensis plant, this catechin-packed tea has powerful antioxidant properties that have been shown in clinical trials to lower the risk of liver cancer
• milk thistle: contains silymarin, which studies show can destroy cancer cells; may cause diarrhea, bloating, or indigestion
• ashwagandha: this Ayurvedic herb has been studied across the globe for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and liver-supporting properties; overdose may cause drowsiness and digestive problems
• mangosteen: this tropical fruit from Thailand contains a class of polyphenols known as xanthones that have promising anticancer effects
• giloy: this Ayurvedic herb flushes free radicals out of the liver, purifies blood, fights bacteria, and lowers blood sugar; overuse can cause constipation
• noni: this Tahitian fruit boasts anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and anti-histamine properties that improve the body’s immune defense mechanism

Supplements

More and more studies are confirming that intravenous delivery of vitamins and minerals can boost the immune system and address various deficiencies and imbalances.

These supplements have demonstrated efficacy in improving liver function:

• vitamin C: breaks down to generate hydrogen peroxide, which can damage DNA; tumor cells with low levels of catalase enzyme activity are much less capable of removing hydrogen peroxide than normal cells, so high doses of vitamin C may kill them¹
• DHA: this naturally occurring omega 3 fatty acid regulates fatty acid synthesis , oxidation, and breakdown of triglycerides (fats) in the blood to help repair liver damage
• vitamin A derivative acyclic retinoid: researchers found that acyclic retinoid blocks the expression of a gene that stimulates liver cancer tumors

Surgery

Severe symptoms or inconclusive diagnoses may require removing the tumor with surgery (resection). Surgical removal is most often recommended for hepatic adenomas which present a significant risk of spontaneous rupture, bleeding, and cancer.

There are two types of liver resections:

• minimally invasive (laparoscopic) liver surgery: surgeons make three to four small incisions
• traditional (open) liver surgery: surgeons make one large incision

Other types of surgery for hemangiomas include those that cut off blood to the tumors via the artery (either through physical ties or drugs). Sometimes, a section of the liver will need to be removed along with the tumor. A patient with a large tumor or multiple tumors may need a liver transplant.

In a study published in BMC Surgery, 827 liver resections for benign hepatic tumors were found to have a postoperative complication rate of 13.5%.²

Radiofrequency ablation

For tumors that are too large to be surgically removed or for small hepatocellular adenomas and FNH, radiofrequency ablation is an effective option.³

A probe delivers high frequency, alternating electrical current to literally burn out the tumor without damaging nearby tissue. This minimally-invasive procedure can be delivered through the skin without surgery (percutaneous) or through several small incisions (laparoscopic). Open radiofrequency ablation (an abdominal incision) can also be done if necessary.

Request your appointment now

Most people with non-cancerous liver tumors experience no symptoms. If these growths begin to cause pain and other symptoms many treatments are available. To treat or remove benign liver tumors in Tice - Fort Myers, call (239) 425-2900 or contact Root Causes Holistic Health & Medicine online.

Sources:

1. Claire M. Doskey, Visarut Buranasudja, Brett A. Wagner, Justin G. Wilkes, Juan Du, Joseph J. Cullen, Garry R. Buettner. Tumor cells have decreased ability to metabolize H2O2: Implications for pharmacological ascorbate in cancer therapy. Redox Biology, 2016; 10: 274 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2016.10.010

2. Kamphues, Carsten, et al. “Safety of Liver Resection and Effect on Quality of Life in Patients with Benign Hepatic Disease: Single Center Experience.” BMC Surgery, vol. 11, no. 1, 26 July 2011, doi:10.1186/1471-2482-11-16.

3. Mezhir, James J., et al. “Changes in the Management of Benign Liver Tumours: an Analysis of 285 Patients.” Hpb, vol. 15, no. 2, 2013, pp. 156–163., doi:10.1111/j.1477-2574.2012.00556.x.