Med ? About Sclerosis of the Liver for a person who has never drank ?

One of my dear friends told me yeasterday that she is diagnoses with this and she has never drank.....  I thought this disease was when people drink alot.  Does anyone have more info they can tell me about this.  Thank you.  Cure, prognosis, treatments.  She is 61

                                 Cassiebabe

Milk thistle is supposed to be helpful with the liver.  You can find the capsules at Trader Joe's. 

This has a lot of good information for you:

 http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/cirrhosis-liver

My mother's sister died from Cyrrhosis (sp?) of the liver and she never drank. Some people who never smoke and did not get second hand smoke get lung cancer. Wenever know, no matter how unfair it seems it just the way of things we have to accept. Sorry about your friend, i hope she does not have to suffer as much as my aunt did 35 yrs ago.

I heard of a woman years ago who died from this, and she didn't drink either. I'm sorry about your friend, Cassie.

No, Cassiebabe, liver disease is not always caused by alcohol.  Liver disease can also be caused by various infections, injuries and trauma, obstructions such as gallstones or tumors, immune system disease or weakness, and overuse of drugs (including prescription drugs), and environmental toxins - such as those in air pollution, house and garden chemicals, and many of the preservatives and additives of food.  Liver disease can also be genetic.

Cirrhosis (or sclerosis) is thickened or scar tissue resulting from liver damage, which prevents the liver from normal function.

While alcohol is a common cause of liver disease in the U.S., it is probably more because so many are heavy drinkers - not because alcohol alone is the cause of liver disease.

Treatment for liver disease has made good advances.  I hope your friend does well!  

I understand that it can be caused by Hepatitis C.

Megger

My best friend from grade school and throughout life, died from primary bilalary cirrosiss of the liver at age 39....only women get this and no known cause....No,,,she was not a drinker....ended up having a transplant in her 5th year and died 10 months later...Nothing could be done for her with that disease....Left 3 children behind...Was told, that her body turned on itself....I personally believe, she was bulimac or anorexhsic...and that triggered it...she was overweight and went on a diet and exercise binge...big time...like hours a day...I think, and so did others, she just over did it...in the exercising....

Wish your friend luck....and support....hope all turns out ok with her...

Very sorry about your friend. My mom had an uncle that was diagnosed as well and had never been a drinker. We were shocked with the diagnosis initially because we had thought that only alcoholics got that disease. He did live several years after being diagnosed, but that was probably about 20 years ago and hopefully there are new treatment options that were not available then.

Honey, I'm very sorry about  your friend's illness.   As others have said, you don't have to drink in order to have it.  My Mom had it and died at age 32 (I was only 7 and my DB was 11) and she didn't drink.  However, she had Rheumatoid Arthritis and possibly another autoimmune disease--they weren't sure) and at that time in the early 50s they didn't know that the meds they gave for RA could poison the liver--so I believe that's what happened to her.

I will be praying for your friend.

When looking up information about Pancreatic cancer, if found some interesting information. It was considered caused by mainly drinking. But, other things can cause it too. I can't remember all of them, but, do remember about gum disease.