The Habit ‘One Direction’ Star Louis Tomlinson’s Dad Says Contributed to His Liver Cancer Diagnosis and the Treatment He Credits for Saving His Life

“I believe my tumor was down to drinking and smoking. I can’t blame it on anything else,” Troy Austin previously told U.K.-based news outlet “The Sun.”

“Some days, I wouldn’t eat at all but would just drink and smoke. I would drink to celebrate the good times and drink to cope with the bad,” Austin continued.

Excessive drinking harms the liver and can make the organ swollen and scarred, increasing liver cancer risk. Heavy alcohol use is defined by daily and weekly consumption limits. According to the U.S. government’s Dietary Guidelines, “heavy drinking” is defined as consuming five or more drinks in a day or 15 or more per week for men and four or more drinks in a day or eight or more per week for women.

He also added his “diet was terrible,” according to PageSix.

Austin’s cancer was discovered after undergoing blood tests, which prompted further examination. He ended up getting a “1.5-inch tumor” removed for treatment.

RELATED: Heavy Alcohol and Liver Cancer

Understanding Liver Cancer and Its Risk Factors

Hepatocytes are the primary type of cells that form the liver. Most liver cancers are termed HCCs (hepatocellular carcinoma) because they are related to problems within these cells.

“Many people don’t even know what the liver does, but the liver is essential for the body and survival. It’s the biochemical factory for the whole body, and it’s important in digestion, metabolism, production of proteins in the blood, and clearance of toxins from the blood,” Dr. Milan Kinkhabwala, professor of surgery and the director of the hepatobiliary section and transplantation at Montefiore Einstein’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, explains to SurvivorNet.

The most common risk factor for HCC is viral hepatitis, a type of liver inflammation caused by a viral infection. The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

WATCH: Understanding Liver Cancer Risk Factors

Other risk factors include:

• Gender (HCC is much more common in men than in women)
• Race/ethnicity
• Cirrhosis (a disease in which liver cells become damaged and are replaced by scar tissue)
• Heavy alcohol use
• Tobacco use
• Obesity and other “metabolic” diseases
• Type 2 diabetes

Liver cancer can be tricky to catch in its early stages since its symptoms can be related to other conditions. Known symptoms include:

• Jaundice: yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes
• Intensely itchy skin
• White or clay-like stool (acholia)
• Dark urine (choluria)
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain on the right side, just below the ribs
• Losing weight without trying
• Fever
• Night sweats

Treatment Approaches to Liver Cancer

Troy Austin underwent surgery to treat his liver cancer. Often, surgery is the initial treatment for liver cancer, especially if it is caught in its early stages. It should be noted that the patient’s overall health is also a factor in the decision to pursue surgery.

“Primarily, we would like to remove the liver tumor if possible,” Dr. Elliot Newman, the chief of surgical oncology at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, tells SurvivorNet.

“Assuming that the patient is a surgical candidate (health enough to tolerate the surgery), then we have to look specifically at the nature of the liver tumor that we’re dealing with and whether it can be safely removed,” Dr. Newman adds.

One element in determining liver cancer surgery eligibility is the details of the tumor itself. The doctor examines whether the tumor is small (less than 5cm), the number of tumors, and where they are located. For instance, are the tumors easily accessible?

WATCH: Liver Cancer Surgery

Types of Liver Cancer Surgical Procedures

Open surgery involves making a large incision by cutting into the body so the surgeon can treat the affected area directly. This approach often comes with a longer, potentially more painful recovery period.

Minimally invasive surgery differs from open surgery because the surgeon makes small incisions using specialized instruments such as a laparoscope to remove cancer tissue.

“We certainly see benefits in minimally invasive surgery when it’s possible because patients have smaller incisions and can recover more quickly, get out of the hospital more quickly, and get back to full functionality more quickly,” explains Dr. Newman.

Like most procedures, liver cancer surgery has risks and benefits that need to be weighed by you and your care team. Notable benefits include more immediate relief of symptoms and reduced pain and recovery time. Risks may also involve the possibility of infection and extended recovery time if your body does not tolerate the procedure.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you are facing a liver cancer diagnosis and want to assess your treatment options better, consider the following questions for your doctor to learn more.

• Am I a good candidate for surgery?
• What types of surgery will you consider?
• What results can I expect?
• What side effects can I expect, and how will we manage them?
• What part of my treatment is covered by insurance, and how much can I expect to pay out of pocket?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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