Liver Cancer

Topics

• What is Liver Cancer?
• What Causes Liver Cancer?
• Symptoms of Liver Cancer
• How is Liver Cancer Diagnosed?
• What is the Treatment for Liver Cancer?
• Outlook for Patients with Liver Cancer
• Suggested Articles

What is the Treatment for Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer can be difficult to treat because it is often not diagnosed until it is in an advanced stage. Also compounding treatment options are pre-existing liver conditions, its general resistance to standard chemotherapy treatment and the fact that it tends to recur after surgery in many patients.

Treatment of liver cancer depends on a number of factors.

• the size, location and stage of the tumor
• whether the cancer has metastasized (spread to other areas in the body)
• how well the liver is functioning
• the age of the patient
• overall health of the patient
• personal preferences

If cancer has not spread from the liver to other areas of the body, and the liver is otherwise healthy, surgery to remove the diseased portion of the liver (liver resection) offers the best chance for a cure. Remarkably, the liver’s capacity to regenerate will allow it to function even when a large amount of liver tissue has been removed. Another surgical option for people who cannot undergo resection is liver transplantation. During a liver transplant, the diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy, donated organ after which the patient must take drugs for life so the body doesn’t reject the new organ.

For individuals who may not be candidates for surgery or transplantation, other treatments are available.

• Radiation therapy. Radiation (high-energy x-rays) is used to destroy cancer cells
• Ethanol injection. The liver tumor is directly injected with ethanol (alcohol) to destroy liver cells
• Sorafenib (Nexavar). An FDA approved oral medication for use in advanced cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (the most common type of liver cancer)
• Cryosurgery. A metal probe is used to freeze and destroy cancer cells
• Radiofrequency ablation. A probe is used to destroy the cancer cells with heat
• Chemotherapy or chemoembolization. Powerful drugs used to destroy cancer cells, sometimes injected directly into the liver tumor
• Clinical trials. Studies in which the research subjects (cancer patients) are assigned to a treatment and their outcomes are measured. Before joining a clinical trial, a participant must qualify for the study. Participating in a clinical study allows the eligible participant to play an active role in their own health care; gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available; obtain expert medical care at leading health care facilities during the trial; help others by contributing to medical research.

How is Liver Cancer Diagnosed? Outlook for Patients with Liver Cancer