Joe Frazier, the great boxing champion, surrendered to his battle after his defeat to liver cancer. Frazier died at 67, leaving memories to his boxing fans.

The great boxer was diagnosed to have the disease a month ago until he died on his home in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Even his greatest contender Mohammad Ali and the reigning boxing champion Manny Pacquiao mourn for his death. His incredible fights will always be with his fans as well as his great contribution to the boxing.

Liver Cancer: Know the Disease

Liver cancer or hepatic cancer is the cancer formed not only in the liver but also in other organs around the hepatic system. This means a liver cancer can be caused by cancer or tumors originated in gall bladder, pancreas, and other surrounding organs but ended up metastasizing in liver.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer that affects both men and women. In fact almost 1500 people each year are dying because of HCC in UK according to the National Health Service.

Causes of Liver Cancer:

Liver cancer can be caused by existing chronic diseases like cirrhosis and diabetes. But there are also some cases wherein, just like other cancers, it is familial or genetic. A person with a family member or relatives diagnosed with liver diseases is at higher risk of developing cancer.

Liver cancer can also be caused by L-carnitine deficiency and low immunity. People with low immunity especially those with suppressed immunes system can acquire liver cancer five times than those who are not.

Obesity and lifestyle can also contribute in increasing the risk of having liver cancer. And this is the reason why more men are affected than women.

Treating Liver Cancer

Unfortunately, most cases of liver cancer can no longer be treated because the symptoms do not appear until the cancer has fully grown.
However, for a small percentage of liver cancer patients that can be treated, they could undergo liver surgeries. The small tumor occupying the small part of the liver can be removed to prevent metastasis or the spread of cancer cells to the whole lover and to other organs.

Liver transplant is for those who have liver tumors smaller than two inches. The National Health Service claimed that people with tumors larger than 2 inches cannot have liver transplants because the risk of the cancer is too high.

On the other hand, to liver cancers that can no longer be treated palliative, treatments can be done to kill the cancer cells. These treatments include Ablative therapy, which is injecting substances like alcohol directly to the tumor, Radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.