This February, help us spread awareness and increase prevention and early detection of liver cancer and disease. Together, we will discover the action steps you can take to improve your liver knowledge and your health.

At three pounds and at the size of a football, the largest organ in your body is your liver. It’s located near the upper right part of your abdomen, under your ribs.

Your liver is vital to your metabolic, detoxification, and immune systems. It takes care of all your body’s functions. Your liver eliminates toxins, stores 10 percent of your blood, and cleans 3 pints of blood every minute.

The liver is the only organ in the body that can regenerate itself. The liver can develop new cells when it’s in a healthy state. However, there are ways you can damage your liver so badly, its superpowers end.

Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions. Each time your liver is injured, it tries to repair itself. In the process, scar tissue forms. Advanced cirrhosis is life-threatening, but there are steps you can take to keep your liver healthy and avoid this disease.

Liver diseases fall into four categories: viruses, lifestyle choices, environment, and rare genetic disorders.

Your liver doesn't have pain receptors. That is why liver cancer is often diagnosed in later stages. Although many cases of liver cancer are preventable, most symptoms go undetected and overlooked. Symptoms of liver disease can vary. It’s important to know what to look out for and when a symptom may be a sign of something more serious.

Primary liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma is also called HCC for short. HCC is a cancer that starts IN your liver. It's different from secondary liver cancers, which have spread to the liver from other organs. HCC often is a fatal disease and the more you know, the more you can do to prevent it.

Your doctor may do a physical exam to see if your liver is enlarged or tender.
Your doctor may order blood tests to measure your liver function. Your doctor may schedule imaging tests such as a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound.
Depending on the results, your doctor may order a biopsy of your liver.

During a liver transplant, a surgeon replaces a diseased liver with a healthy liver. The donor is usually deceased. For end-stage liver disease and primary liver cancer, a liver transplant is usually the best option.

You can’t live without a functioning liver. For many chronic liver diseases, a liver transplant is needed. A liver transplant is the surgical removal and replacement of all or part of the damaged liver. There are two types of liver transplants  A liver replacement may come from a healthy living donor or a deceased donor. 

Fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat builds up in your liver. There are two main types: 1.Alcoholic fatty liver disease also called alcoholic steatohepatitis and 2. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) -- which is not related to heavy alcohol use.

Alcohol damages and destroys the cells of your liver. It is one of the main causes of cirrhosis.

Valentine's Day is a great time to love your liver! Fresh air, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables can reduce liver inflammation - and they’re also delicious. Or walk with your best friend. Your liver loves it when you exercise. And your dog loves being with you!

Losing weight and keeping it off is good for your liver and general health .... but it is HARD even if you’re the leader of the free world. Eating can be an addiction. Slipping from slightly overweight into health-threatening obesity can happen to anyone. There are no quick fixes. If you want to love your liver, your heart, and the rest of your body, you need to maintain a healthy weight.

The risk factors for Hepatitis B are:
Having unprotected sex with multiple sex partners or with someone who's infected with HBV.
Sharing needles during IV drug use.
Working in a job that exposes you to bodily fluids including blood.
Being born to an infected mother

The hepatitis C virus is spread through the blood. Some examples of blood-to-blood contact that may lead to hepatitis C transmission include:

• Sharing drug paraphernalia
• Being stuck by a used blood needle
• Working in a job that exposes you to blood
• Receiving blood transfusions prior to 1992
• Being incarcerated
• Being in combat in the military

There are some rare genetic disorders like Wilson’s Disease and Hereditary Hemochromatosis that may cause HCC. Wilson's disease is caused by the inability to eliminate copper in the bloodstream. Hereditary Hemochromatosis is caused by a faulty gene that causes the body to absorb too much iron from food and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer and approximately one million people in the US have it.

Comorbidity means more than one disease or condition is present in the same person at the same time. Having a comorbidity may put you at higher risk for liver disease and liver cancer.

Liver function tests determine your liver’s health by measuring the levels of proteins and liver enzymes in your blood. Depending on the test, either higher- or lower-than-normal levels of these enzymes or proteins can indicate a problem with your liver. A liver function test may be recommended if you’re experiencing symptoms of liver disease, liver cancer, or if you have certain medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or anemia.

The hepatitis B vaccine is usually given as 2, 3, or 4 shots and it can prevent hepatitis B. Infants should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and will usually complete the series at six months of age. Adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine and unvaccinated adults should also be vaccinated.

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, There is a treatment that can achieve up to a 95% cure rate.The Centers for Disease Control recommends that ALL adults over 18 have a one-time screening for hepatitis C.

Coffee! The magic bean is a terrific way to love your liver! Not only may it help reduce the risk of liver disease by as much as 70 percent, it may also help protect against alcohol-related cirrhosis, non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease, and hepatitis C.

Alcohol is a toxin, and your liver’s job is to flush out toxins to protect your body. In fact, your liver processes 90 percent of the alcohol you consume. your liver can only process a certain amount of alcohol at a time. When you drink too much, the alcohol left unprocessed by your liver circulates through your bloodstream. The alcohol in the blood starts affecting the heart and brain, which is how you become intoxicated.

You can take control of your health just by losing 10% of your weight. Try the “ten percent solution” to prevent liver disease, and to help heal your liver.  Before making drastic changes to your lifestyle, ask your doctor if losing 10% of your body weight will be good for you.

On average, three people pass away everyday waiting for a liver transplant in the U.S. The number of people who need liver transplants exceeds the number of livers available. The good news is, there are ways you can help! You can register to become a liver donor. You can be a live donor and donate a portion of your healthy liver. Another option is to register to donate your liver when you pass.

The primary liver cancer prevention tips we’ve shared during the Love Your Liver Campaign are:

• Get a Hepatitis B vaccination
• Get a one-time Hepatitis C screening
• Drink coffee
• Stop drinking alcohol
• Lose 10% of your body weight
• Become a liver donor

View all Daily Actions at loveyourliver.us/daily-actions

While our Love Your Liver campaign is ending, loving your liver never ends. 

• Tell us how you are loving your liver by using the #loveyourliver and #bluefaery on social media.
• Stay in touch by connecting with us on our website at www.bluefaery.org