Liver Cancer Treatment

Liver cancer treatment depends on the cancer stage as well as the health status of the patient. Treatments aim to get rid of the cancer. If that is no longer possible, the goal will be to prevent its growth or relieve the symptoms.

Surgery

Partial hepatectomy is a process that removes cancer from the liver. Some healthy tissues are taken out as well. Surgery is possible if the liver is in good condition and the tumor is still small.

Cryoablation

Cryoablation utilizes cold to eliminate the cancer cells. The doctor will place the cryoprobe instrument on the tumor. The cryoprobe has liquid nitrogen which is used to freeze the cells. This treatment can be standalone or used with chemotherapy. The ultrasound is utilized to guide the instrument.

Radiofrequency Ablation

This process employs heat to crush the cancer cells. Needles are put in the stomach. Upon reaching the tumor, they are heated, leading to the destruction of cancer cells. A CT scan is employed so the instrument can get to the tumor.

Liver Transplant Surgery

In this procedure, the cancer stricken liver is replaced with a new one. This option is suitable for early stage cancer and if the patient has cirrhosis.

Alcohol Injection

100% alcohol is placed in the tumor, either through an operation or the skin. Alcohol helps the cells dry out and die out.

Radiation Therapy

This method utilizes energy beams to eliminate the cancer cells. The patient is placed on the table and the machine points the beams to the affected part of the body. Side effects include vomiting, nausea and fatigue.

Drug Therapy

Sorafenib (Nexavar) is a medication used to block the tumor capacity to produce blood vessels. It can also stop the advance of the cancer by a few months.

Chemoembolization

This therapy involves injecting liver cancer treatment drugs on the tumor.

Symptoms

They include sudden loss of weight without dieting, loss of appetite, vomiting and pain in the abdomen. The liver will be enlarged, and nausea may be felt. The skin will appear yellowish and so will the whites of the eyes.

Cause and Types

Some hepatitis viruses cause the cancer. However, there are some types that have no known cause. There are many types, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) the most common. It commences in the hepatocytes.

Cholangiocarcinoma starts in the small tube inside the liver. This is also known as bile duct cancer. Hepatoblastoma affect children under 4 years of age, but can be treated. Hemangiosarcoma or angiosarcoma start at the blood vessels.

All these cancers occur when the liver cells undergo mutation in their DNA. These mutations alter the instructions. The result is that cells expand uncontrollably. They may also form tumors.

No solid evidence exists linking diet with the cancer, but eating healthy food and avoiding hard liquor is still recommended by most doctors.

Liver cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. But if the disease is spotted early and the right liver cancer treatment is given, the odds of making a recovery will go up.