Overview
What Is Liver Cancer?
Primary liver cancer refers to cancer originating from the cells of the liver. It is classified based on the type of cells affected by cancer:
Metastatic liver cancer refers to cancer that has spread from other organs such as colon, lung, breast and stomach to liver. Metastatic liver cancer is more common than primary liver cancer.
Causes
The risk of liver cancer is increased in:
Early stage liver cancer may not have any signs. As the cancer advances to a later stage, it may produce the following symptoms:
Prevention
Detection & Treatment
Diagnosis
Liver Biopsy:
A procedure where a small sample of tissue is taken to be examined under the microscope
Blood Tests:
Test for the presence of a cancer marker called alphafetoprotein (AFP). It is important to note that AFP levels may be normal even in the presence of liver cancer, or elevated in patients without liver cancer, and hence it is NOT used to make a diagnosis.
Treatment
Some of the treatment options available include:
Local Ablative Therapies (LATs):
There are various techniques for LAT. They provide targeted destruction of the liver tumours under imaging guidance. Examples include inserting a special needle with microwave, radiofrequency or freezing properties to destroy tumours in a targeted area. LATs are more effective on smaller tumours.
TransArterial Chemo Embolidation (TACE):
TACE involves injecting chemotherapy agents into the blood vessel supplying blood to the tumour and blocking it off with beads or particles to deprive the tumour of nutrition.
Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT):
Radioactive particles are delivered directly via a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) in the blood vessel to the liver tumour to destroy the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy or Immunotherapy:
The use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells or to stop them from multiplying.
Specialties & Services
