Liver Cancer Story

By Ainsley

Part #1- Story

Hello, my name is Liv. I am one of the many cells that live inside my host Sophia’s body. I am located in the left cell of the liver, known as the left lobe. Unfortunately I have mutated into a damaged cell as my host is a heavy smoker, and abuses alcohol. Due to her unhealthy habits my host now has cirrhosis which is a scaring condition of the liver.

My host is going to see a Specialist in Oncology today, and they have diagnosed her with Primary liver cancer. It is a condition that happens when normal cells in the liver become abnormal in appearance and behavior. The cancer cells can then become destructive to adjacent normal tissues, and can spread both to other areas of the liver.

My host is experiencing several symptoms of liver cancer including; upper abdominal pain, weight loss, appetite loss, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin). But as her liver failure progresses, the symptoms become more serious. She becomes confused, disoriented, and extremely sleepy. There is a risk of a coma and death.

My host requires immediate treatment at the Hospital. The medical team there will try to save whatever part of her liver that still works, but if this is not possible, the only option may be a liver transplant. Which is where we find ourselves now. Unfortunately surgery did not go well for my host, and she is currently on the transplant list waiting for a new liver.

 

Part #2:

Question: What questions did you need to research in order to create your cancer story?

Answer:  I researched many questions such as, how can Liver Cancer be treated? How does liver cancer affect your body? What is liver cancer? What causes liver cancer? What happened to you as a gene? And how was the host’s life affected and what is their story? 

 

Question: What new or familiar digital tools did you try to use as you worked through this project?

Answer: I didn’t really use any new digital tools besides YouTube. I also, used Google for research and images. One thing that was sort of new for me was using YouTube. I don’t tend to use YouTube for research.

 

Question: What was the process you used to investigate the topic (Liver Cancer)?

Answer: I read varies medical websites and gathered information. Then I built a story around it.

 

Question: How did you verify and cite the information you found?

Answer: If I found one website that had good information, then I would go to another website to check to see if it had some of the same information.  The information that I used from websites, I would just copy the link and paste it into a document and create a bibliography.

 

Question:  How did the process of this challenge go? What could you have done better?

Answer:   The process of this challenge went good besides it was very rushed. I wanted to make sure I understood my topic so I knew what I was going to write about. I think I could have added more detail and information and added more detail on the story.

 

Bibliography

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/understanding-liver-cancer-basic-information#1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ARQ9l5E9CE

http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/liver-cancer/treatment-options

https://www.seattlecca.org/diseases/liver-tumors-cancer/liver-cancer-facts 

https://www.sharecare.com/health/liver-cancer/does-liver-cancer-affect-body 

http://www.liverfoundation.org/

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