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Conditions & Diseases: CancersLiver Cancer Treatment OptionsSee Also: Treatment Options Liver cancer treatment varies from patient to patient. The treatment approach is adjusted to the patients needs and takes in consideration the following factors: (1) the tumor size and location, (2) the cancer stage, (3) the general health state of the patient, and (4) the patients age. The treatment options for liver cancer are: Surgery Surgery, as a treatment option for liver cancer, is available only for those patients whose tumors are no larger than 5 cm, are confined to the liver, and the cancer has not invaded the adjacent blood vessels, organs or lymph nodes. There are four types of surgery performed in liver cancer patients:
Radiation Therapy or Radiotherapy is another treatment approach in the battle against liver cancer. It uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancerous cells. Liver cancer patient can receive radiation therapy through several forms.
The radiation therapy side effects include:
Chemotherapy The liver cancer patient can receive chemotherapy differently: (1) as pills, (2) intravenous, as an injection into the vein or through a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) placed in the vein when the patient needs many IV treatments, or (3) placed directly into the tumor, treatment called regional chemotherapy (small pumps send the drugs through the blood vessels straight in the tumor). The advantage of a regional chemotherapy is that it reduces the harmful effects of the chemotherapy on the healthy body cells. There are several types of regional chemotherapy:
Chemotherapys side effects include:
Percutaneous Ethanol Injection is an innovative, low morbidity procedure where the liver cancer is killed with ethanol (alcohol). This substance is administrated into the tumor through a needle. The alcohol destroys the tumor by dehydrating the cancerous cell and altering the cellular protein structure. The most common side effects of this treatment are fever and pain caused by the alcohol leakage on the surface of the liver and into the abdominal cavity. Portal Vein Embolization is a treatment approach where the portal vein blood supply is blocked. This treatment has two benefits: 1) substantially reduces one part of the liver (where usually the tumor is located) and 2) causes the remaining liver to grow. Portal vein embolization is a pre-operatory step for those patients that need surgery but the tumor either is to big to be removed, or the tissue that requires to be removed is to big while the healthy liver tissue left behind is to small. Interstitial Laser Photocoagulation and Microwave are two additional treatment approaches that directly injure or kill the tumor cells. These two treatments do not work as well as other types of cancer treatment in killing big tumors. Interstitial laser photocoagulation uses a thin optical fiber (which is inserted in the center of the tumor) and a laser device. When the laser light is emitted, the cancerous cells undergo a thermal necrosis. Interstitial macrowave is a thermal type therapy which kills the tumor by heating them to a high temperature (50 degrees C) for an extended period of time. Biologic therapy also called immunotherapy is a type of treatment used to improve the bodys natural defenses. This treatment uses the bodys immune system either to fight against cancer, or to decrease the side effects caused by the cancer treatment. Biologic therapy uses substances produced in laboratory that copy those naturally produced by the body to boost, direct, or restore the natural defenses of the body. Liver Transplant is a solution for those patients that suffer from hepatocellular carcinoma in advanced stages, when other treatment option do not work. This surgical procedure involves two steps. The healthier liver is removed from a donor (a person that is brain dead) and then implanted into a patient whose own liver does not function normally. The main side effects of a liver transplant include:
See Also: Article by Alina Morrow, MA Sources: American Cancer Society, Detailed Guide: Liver Cancer, March
2006
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Page Last Modified:
11 /29/2007