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6. Liver Cancer
(Please refer the article on effect of herbotherapy treatment on liver cancer at the bottom of
the page)
LIVER CANCER
(1) Overview
(2) Symptoms
(4) Metastasis
(7) Treatment as per Ayurveda (with ayurvedic herbs and ayurvedic preparations)
(1) Overview :-
The liver is a very important organ in the human body. It is placed under right ribs
just under the right lung. The most important function of the liver is to convert
food into energy and filtering and storing blood. The liver plays a pivotal role in the
detoxification of blood, i.e. removal of toxins produced in the body due to
metabolic activity of the body. The liver receives blood from two sources, the
hepatic artery supplies the liver with blood from the heart that is rich in oxygen and
the portal vein carries nutrient rich blood from the digestive organs. Liver also
produces clotting agents necessary for clotting the blood when the body is injured.
It secrets bile into the intestines, to help absorb nutrients. The liver is made up of
several different types of cells. This is why there are several types of malignant
(cancerous) and benign (non-cancerous) tumors that can form in the liver.
Benign tumors :-
(i) Hemangioma – The most common type of benign tumor of the liver, starts in
blood vessles. Because most hemangiomas of the liver cause no symptoms, they do
not need treatment. Some however may need to be surgically removed.
(ii) Hepatic adenomas – These are benign tumors of hepatocytes (the main type of
liver cell). Most cause no symptoms and do not need treatment. However, some
eventually cause symptoms, such as abdominal pain, a mass in the abdomen, or
blood loss. Because there is a risk that the tumor could rupture, and a small risk
that it would eventually develop into liver cancer, most experts usually recommend
surgical removal if possible.
(iii) Focal nodular hyperplasia – This is a tumor growth of several cell types.
Although FNH tumors are benign, it can be difficult to tell them apart from true
liver cancers, and they sometimes are surgically removed when diagnosis is
unclear.
Malignant tumors: -
(iii) Angiosarcomas and hemangiosarcomas: - These are rare cancers that begin in
the blood vessles of the liver. Exposure to various chemicals such as vinyl chlorides
or thorium oxide, and radioactive elements like radium or poisons like arsenic are
known to cause these types of cancers. Angiosarcomas grow rapidly, by the time
they are detected the growth is too large to be surgically removed.
(iv) Hepatoblastoma: - This is a very rare kind of cancer that developes in children,
usually up to five years of age. If detected early this cancer is highly treatable.
(2) Symptoms: -
Signs and symptoms in liver cancers are not present until the last stage when cancer
has spread. Many signs and symptoms are relatively non-specific, they can be
caused by other cancers or non-cancerous diseases. However the following
symptoms may require attention.
(iii) Liver enlargement or a mass that can be felt in the area of liver.
(v) Jaundice.
(vi) Hyperglycemia – Some liver hormones may cause hyperglycemia ( high blood
calcium levels). This can lead to weakness.
(vii) Hypoglycemia – Low blood sugar levels, which can lead to fainting.
(ix) Aseitis – Water retention in the abdominal area. Many patients are seen with
these symptoms.
(ii) Chronic viral hepatitis – Chronic (long term) infection with hepatitis B virus or
Hepatitis C virus is an important liver cancer risk factor. These infections are
responsible for making liver cancer the most common type of cancer in the world.
(iii) Cirrhosis – Cirrhosis is the result of scar tissue formation in the liver. This can
often lead to cancer. Most liver cirrhosis occurs in people who abuse alcohol. But,
Hepatitis B and C are also major causes of liver cirrhosis. Another cause
is excessive iron in liver.
(iv) Tobacco use – A link has been established between tobacco use and liver cancer.
Combined with alcohol tobacco is very potent in causing cancer.
(v) Inherited metabolic diseases – Certain metabolic diseases can also lead to
cirrhosis. People with hemochromatosis, absorb too much iron from their food.
They are more likely to develop cirrhosis because of the high levels of iron in their
liver.
(vi) Aflatoxins – These cancer causing substances are produced by a fungus that
contaminates crops. Long term exposure may cause Hepatocellular carcinoma.
(4) Metastasis: -
Mostly when cancer is found in the liver, it did not start there but spread, or
metastasized from a cancer that developed in the other organs of the body such as
pancreas, colon, stomach, breast, or lung, and metastasized to the liver. These
tumors are named after their primary site of occurrences and are further known as
metastasis. For example, cancer that started in the lung and spread to the liver is
called metastatic lung cancer with spread to the liver.
(5) Diagnosis: -
The following methods are used by modern science in the diagnsis of liver cancer.
(i) Ultrasound
(iv) Angiography
(v) Leproscopy
(vi) Biopsy
(6) Staging: -
(i) Stage 1 – The tumor may be small or large but has not affected blood vessles.
(ii) Stage 2 – There may be many tumors of large size but blood vessles are not yet
affected.
(iii) Stage 3-a – There are several tumors, and at least one is larger than 5 cms. And
a tumor invades a branch of major liver blood vessles. (Portal vein or Hepatic vein)
(iv) Stage 3-b – A tumor invades a nearby organ or a tumor has penetrated the lining
of the liver.
(v) Stage 3-c – The cancer has invaded nearby lymph nodes.
(vi) Stage 4 – The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Results of 770 patients of various types of cancer treated at DARF during Jan.2004
to Dec.2004.
(1) Total no. of Primary cancer 504. In all 504 patients with primary cancer of
various types were treated at DARF.
(2) Total no. of Secondary (metastases) cancer 266. In all 266 patients with
metastases of different types were treated at DARF.
The above results show the high effectiveness of DARF anti cancer therapy.
Abstract: Cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases: Liver cancer (Malignancies)
is a terminal event in many cancers. Herbotherapy is a very effective treatment
with no side effects. Citrus medica (Bijoru) is a fruit used since ancient times by the
Ayurveda practitioners. Juice of a single bijoru fruit is given to the patients of
primary as well as metastatic cancer registered at 'Divyajyot Ayurvedic research
Foundation'. It improves patient's liver metabolism, gradually normalizes LFT,
prevents recurrence, stops further spread of disease, decreases tumor growth. At
the end of 4 to 6 months, patient becomes free from the disease symptoms and
leads a normal life.
INTRODUCTION:
Liver is the largest gland in the body and performs more than 500 different
functions. Primary liver Cancer is relatively rare but metastatic liver cancer (spread
from a distant - cancerous organ) is at least 20 times more than primary liver
cancer. Liver metastasis is a terminal event in many cancers. Advanced liver
metastatic cancer is a significant problem with limited treatment options and has
very little chances of survival. Chronic liver diseases includes viral hepatitis,
Jaundice,, Alcoholic cirrhosis or primary billiary cirrhosis, hepatitis B, all these are
risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma. Males have higher risk for H CC than
females. The metastasis can be either solitary or multiple. In case of multiple
metastasis, liver function can become altered, leading to further deterioration in a
patient's condition. The treatment options in such a scenario are limited with a
usual fatal outcome. Common symptoms found in these patients are hepatomegaly,
weight loss, abnormal elevation of liver enzymes, elevation of AFP, Anemia, mass or
multiple liver lesions, obstructive jaundice... etc. For the detection of liver
carcinoma, elevation of AFP, USG Abdomen, CT scan or MRI of abdomen, needle
biopsy or laproscopic liver biopsy is helpful.
100 patients are selected to be screened for " Citrus medica" juice effects on their
disease, registered at `Divyajyot Ayurvedic Research Foundation'. The chief of the
investigating team and head of the institute "Vaidya Shree Shree Maa Anantanand
Tirthaji" and other research committee members, along with their assistant
research, doctors and scientist conducted the whole project.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
1. The aim is to study the effects of the juice of the "Citrus medica'", popularly
known as "Bijora", in the treatment of patients having primary or metastatic liver
cancers with improving liver functions.
2. One of the most "ancient" medical sciences of the world is "Ayurveda". Ayurvedic
medicine has no side effects. Since 1978 Vaidya Shree Shree Maa Anantanand
Tirdhji treats all types of advanced cancers with different types of anti cancer
treatments, somr of them are panchkarma therapy and herbal juice therapy. These
treatments find excellent results. The institute is working towards providing the
patients with a cure for this terrible disease.
3. To document the data and publish it to enrich the general quantum of medical
knowledge.
Material: Scientific name: Citrus medica L. Common name: Bijoru Family: Rutaceae
Useful Parts:Fruit.
Uses: It is used in all kinds of liver diseases, like liver cirrhosis, jaundice, damaged
liver. function, viral hepatitis B and C, primary and secondary liver malignancies.
Their respective findings were analyzed for statistical significance. Patients with
liver diseases underwent baseline investigations in the form of liver function test,
tumor marker studies, Ultra sound examination of liver and detailed documentation
of clinical status. The patient are administered a glass of single Bijora fruit juice in
the early morning with empty stomach followed after two hours. This must be
continued regularly at least for a minimum period of 3 months.
For the other symptoms patients were advised to take Ayurvedic medicines as per
requirement after their prakruti examination and nadi pariksha. The following herbs
were administered along with the treatment.
(1) Lindi piper (2) Morepinchh bhasma (3) Kapur kachali churna (4) Tapvadi loh•
Kanchnar (5) Bhoamli (6) Vikalo (7) Vayavarno (8) Garmalo (9) Kunvarpathu.
(1)To stop ghee and oil preparations completely. (2)To avoid spicy food. (3)To take
boiled vegetables. (4)To take goat milk. (5)To take papaya and all kinds of citrus
fruit.
Their clinical status and biochemical parameters were studied at the interval of 4 to
6 weeks. The course was carried out for at least 3 months. If the juice gives gives
positive response it can be increased up to 6 months. After 6 months, radiological
investigations were also carried out.
CRITERIA OF ASSESMENT:
(1) All symptoms of liver cancer were reported at the time of patient's registration.
The symptoms when reassessed and if improved or scored as symptomatically relief
and LFT (Liver Function Test) is encouraging, is considered to be as ` Improved'.
(2) Patient who is observed to be symptomatically normal from disease and LFT is
normal and radiological findings are also near about normal, is considered to be
'Markedly Improved'.
(3) Those patients with all investigations like radiological and hematological reports
normal, are considered ‘Disease Free’.
RESULTS:
Total numbers of selected primary cancer patients were 30. Total numbers of
selected metastases cancer patients were 70.
Table: 3 Results of Bijora juice therapy in primary and metastatic liver cancer
Patients with respect to their liver function
Conclusions: -
1 A single Bijora juice early in the morning with empty stomach upto 3 months daily
gives very positive results.
2 It improves metabolism, liver function and appetite of the patient.
3 It gradually minimizes the symptoms like nadi dosha, imbalance of prakriti and
disturbances in the constitution of patient.
4 It dissolves the tumor gradually.
5 This juice therapy gives rapid results in metastatic cancer than primary cancer.
6 Dwidosh Prakriti is common in primary cancer patients. Metastatic cancer patients
have more often a tridosh prakriti.
7 It maintains Hemoglobin level indirectly by gradually improving liver functions.
8 Few patients having advance nature of disease may not be cured.