I am an alcoholic.Do I have the risk of liver cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 34 year old male. During recent times I am feeling a fear of having liver cancer due to my history of heavy alcoholism. I have mentioned my risk factors below:

My body weight is 89Kg and my height is 166cm.

I had mumps at an age of 5 years.

I have kidney stones (as per the reports attached).

I had hepatitis A in 2004.

I was a heavy alcoholic from 2008-2012 with a daily intake of almost 300mL hard spirit daily.

I reduced alcohol intake after being diagnosed by grade 1 fatty liver in 2013 October.

Presently, I have pain or sensitivity on the upper right quadrant, a day after drinking alcohol. I have alcohol weekly twice and the pain goes away after 3-4 days of abstinence from alcohol.

High calcium level as per attached blood report.

Low vitamin D level as per attached blood report.

I have sensitivity in the neck area.

Although I have been having a good appetite, I still feel that I may have a very initial stage of HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) or any other liver complication.

My questions are:

What is your opinion towards the risk factor of having HCC on the basis of attached reports and above mentioned risk factors?

I am using Livatone plus since last 4 months, one capsule 2 times a day. Do they interfere with alcohol drinking 2-3 times in a week?

I have recently started to take multivitamin tablets (Ranbaxy Revital) once daily, without any prescription, after feeling tiredness and fatigue. Is it fine to take these tablets?

Is tiredness and fatigue a cause of long term alcohol abuse?

Do you suggest any further test and if yes, then within what time limit can I do it, as I am planning to go for a whole body check up only after 3 months due to insurance restrictions?

If I have very initial stage cancer, will it reach to a complicated level after 3 months?

I feel breathless after having food, is this due to the reason I am asthmatic as this symptom relieves once I take a puff of Asthalin? Or, is it due to any liver complication?

I feel darkness under eyes, is it due to any liver disease which may be progressing?

Do my high albumin level and low alkaline phosphatase levels signify any liver complication?

Does a normal LFT rule out HCC or Cirrhosis at early stage?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your reports are essentially normal except for elevated cholesterol (attachments removed to protect patient identity).

Yes, you have a risk of HCC due to alcohol intake.

Grade 1 fatty changes in the liver may be due to obesity and alcohol consumption.

But still you not need to worry, alcohol induced hepatitis changes are reversible in the initial stages.

And you need to lower your weight at least up to 80Kg.

You have not mentioned about fasting glucose level, as it is necessary especially when your cholesterol level is elevated.

The pain in the right side of the abdomen may be due to fatty liver or kidney stones or acidity.

HCC in the case of alcoholism occurs after cirrhosis i.e, in the advance stage of the disease.

It may occur without cirrhosis in the case of hepatitis B and C infection.

Hepatitis A, mumps and kidney stones are not risk factors for HCC.

You have mentioned about some rash in the neck, that may be due to multivitamin deficiency particularly of niacin so continue revital capsules.

You do not need any other investigations, but you just can get vaccination done for hepatitis B (if not done previously) to prevent infection as well as HCC, and also get done a test for hepatitis B and C prior to vaccination.

Final advice is just forget alcohol and any other bad habits as well as HCC.

Revert back to a medical gastroenterologist online for further follow up --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/medical-gastroenterologist

I am an alcoholic.Do I have the risk of liver cancer?

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