| | | | | completely. When that isn't possible, the focus may |
| | | | | be on preventing the tumor from growing or |
| Liver Cancer | | | | spreading. In some cases palliative care only is |
| Primary liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver | | | | appropriate. Palliative care refers to treatment aimed |
| itself. Although many cancers are declining in the | | | | not at removing or slowing the disease but at helping |
| United States, new cases of primary liver cancer are | | | | relieve symptoms and making you as comfortable as |
| increasing. | | | | possible... |
| Cancers that commonly spread to the liver include | | | | |
| colon, lung and breast cancers. These cancers aren't | | | | Surgery : - The best treatment for localized |
| called liver cancer. Instead, they are named after the | | | | resectable cancer is usually an operation known as |
| organ in which the cancer began — such as | | | | surgical resection. In some cases, the area of the |
| metastatic colon cancer to describe cancer that | | | | liver where the cancer is found can be completely |
| begins in the colon and spreads to the liver. These | | | | removed. You aren't a candidate for surgical removal |
| metastatic cancers are treated based on where the | | | | of liver tumors if you have cirrhosis or only a small |
| cancer began, rather than being treated as primary | | | | amount of healthy liver tissue. Even when resections |
| liver cancers. | | | | are successful, there is a chance the cancer can |
| | | | | recur elsewhere in the liver or in other areas within a |
| Symptoms of Liver Cancer | | | | few years... |
| When symptoms do appear, they may include some | | | | |
| or all of the following : - | | | | Alcohol injection : -In this procedure, pure alcohol is |
| - Loss of appetite and weight | | | | injected directly into tumors, either through the skin |
| - Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right part of | | | | or during an operation. Alcohol dries out the cells of |
| your abdomen, that may extend into your back and | | | | the tumor and eventually the cells die. Each |
| shoulder | | | | treatment consists of one injection, although you |
| - Nausea and vomiting | | | | may need a series of injections for the best results. |
| - General weakness and fatigue | | | | Alcohol injection has been shown to improve survival |
| - An enlarged liver | | | | in people with small hepatocellular tumors... |
| - Abdominal swelling (ascites) | | | | |
| - A yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites | | | | Radiofrequency ablation : - In this procedure, electric |
| of your eyes (jaundice) | | | | current in the radiofrequency range is used to |
| | | | | destroy malignant cells. Using an ultrasound or CT |
| Causes of Liver Cancer | | | | scan as a guide, your surgeon inserts several thin |
| Your liver is a football-sized organ that sits in the | | | | needles into small incisions in your abdomen. When |
| upper right portion of your abdomen, beneath your | | | | the needles reach the tumor, they're heated with an |
| diaphragm and above your stomach. Your liver | | | | electric current, destroying the malignant cells. |
| processes most of the nutrients absorbed from your | | | | Radiofrequency ablation is an option for people with |
| small intestine and determines how much sugar | | | | small, unresectable hepatocellular tumors and for |
| (glucose), protein and fat enter your bloodstream. It | | | | some types of metastatic liver cancers... |
| also manufactures blood-clotting substances and | | | | |
| certain proteins. Your liver performs a vital | | | | Chemoembolization : - Chemoembolization is a type |
| detoxifying function by removing drugs, alcohol and | | | | of chemotherapy treatment that supplies strong |
| other harmful substances from your bloodstream... | | | | anti-cancer drugs directly to the liver. |
| | | | | Chemoembolization isn't curative, but it can shrink |
| Tests and diagnosis of Liver Cancer | | | | tumors in a certain percentage of people, which may |
| | | | | provide symptom relief and improve survival. During |
| Screening : - | | | | the procedure, the hepatic artery — the artery |
| Screening for liver cancer hasn't been definitively | | | | from which liver cancers derive their blood supply |
| proved to reduce the risk of dying of liver cancer. | | | | — is blocked, and chemotherapy drugs are |
| For this reason, many medical groups don't | | | | injected between the blockage and the liver... |
| recommend liver cancer screening. | | | | |
| However, the American Association for the Study of | | | | Cryoablation (cryosurgery or cryotherapy) : - This |
| Liver Diseases recommends liver cancer screening for | | | | treatment uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells. |
| those thought to have a high risk... | | | | Cryoablation may be an option for people with |
| | | | | inoperable primary and metastatic liver cancers. It |
| Diagnosis : - | | | | may also be used in addition to surgery, |
| If you experience any of the symptoms of liver | | | | chemotherapy or other standard treatments... |
| cancer, your doctor will ask you about your medical | | | | |
| history and perform a physical exam. | | | | Radiation therapy : - This treatment uses |
| | | | | high-powered energy beams to destroy cancer cells |
| Tests and procedures used to diagnose liver cancer | | | | and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a |
| include : - | | | | machine outside your body or from |
| Ultrasound (ultrasonography) : - This test uses sound | | | | radiation-containing materials inserted into your liver. |
| waves to produce a picture of internal organs, | | | | Radiation may be used on its own to treat localized |
| including the liver. Ultrasound is painless and usually | | | | unresectable cancer... |
| takes less than 30 minutes... | | | | |
| | | | | Chemotherapy : - This treatment uses powerful |
| Computerized tomography (CT) scan : - This test | | | | drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be |
| uses X-rays to produce cross-sectional images of | | | | systemic — meaning it travels throughout your |
| your body. You may also have a variation of the test | | | | body in your bloodstream — or regional. Systemic |
| — known as a CT angiogram — in which | | | | chemotherapy is generally not effective in treating |
| contrast dye is injected into an artery in your liver. | | | | liver cancer, but may be a treatment option in certain |
| | | | | cases... |
| Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) : - MRI creates | | | | |
| images using a magnetic field and radio waves. | | | | Liver transplantation : - In this surgical procedure, a |
| Sometimes a contrast dye also may be used. | | | | diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy, |
| | | | | donated organ. Liver transplantation may be an |
| Liver biopsy : - In this procedure, a sample of tissue | | | | option for some people with small, early-stage liver |
| is removed from your liver and examined under a | | | | tumors and for certain people with bile duct tumors... |
| microscope. Liver biopsy is considered the only | | | | |
| definitive way to diagnose liver cancer. | | | | Please log on to : |
| | | | | Send your query : Get a Quote |
| Blood tests : - Doctors sometimes use a blood test | | | | |
| that checks for the presence of alpha-fetoprotein | | | | We Care Core Values |
| (AFP) — a type of protein found in small amounts | | | | We have a very simple business model that keeps |
| in adults — to detect liver cancer. | | | | you as the centre. |
| | | | | Having the industry’s most elaborate and |
| Treatments of Liver Cancer | | | | exclusive Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams |
| Treatments for primary liver cancer depend on the | | | | stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you |
| extent (stage) of the disease as well as your age, | | | | the smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. |
| overall health, feelings and personal preferences. | | | | With a ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five |
| Discuss all of your options carefully with your | | | | patients our patient care standards are unmatched |
| treatment team. | | | | across the sub continent. |
| The goal of any treatment is to eliminate the cancer | | | | |