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Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is treated in our Bile Duct, Gallbladder, Liver and Pancreas Cancer Program within the Upstate Cancer Center.

For more information or answers to your questions about our Cancer Care, please call 315 464-HOPE (4673) to speak with an Upstate Cancer Center representative.

Definition

Liver cancer is growth of cancer cells in the liver. The liver is an organ in the right side of the abdomen. It helps with digestion. It also filters and stores blood.

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Causes

Cancer happens when cells divide without control or order. These cells grow together to form a tumor. They can invade and damage nearby tissues. They can also spread to other parts of the body.

It is not clear what causes changes in the cells. It is likely a combination of genes and environment.

Risk Factors

Liver cancer is more common in men and older adults. Other things that raise the risk are:

Symptoms

There may be no symptoms in the early stages of liver cancer.

When symptoms happen, they may be:

  • Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eye— jaundice
  • Loss of hunger and weight
  • Tiredness and weakness
  • Belly pain, swelling, or nausea
  • Dark urine
  • Itching

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done.

Tests may include:

  • Blood tests
  • Biopsy—a sample of tissue is taken and tested
  • Laparoscopy—a scope is used to look inside the liver

Imaging tests will check for tumors and the spread of cancer. They may include:

The exam and test results are used to diagnose the cancer. They are also used for staging. Staging outlines how far and fast cancer has spread. Liver cancer is staged 1 to 4. The lower the stage number, the less the cancer has spread.

Treatment

The goal is to remove the cancer, if possible. Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer. It also depends on the person's health.

Options may be:

  • Surgery to try to cure the cancer, such as:
    • Removing the tumor, nearby tissue, and possibly nearby lymph nodes
    • A liver transplant—for those with tumors that cannot be removed with surgery
  • Other procedures—for smaller tumors, or when surgery is not a good option—such as:
    • Radiofrequency ablation—uses heat to destroy the tumor
    • Cryotherapy—freezes and destroys tumors
    • Ethanol ablation—kills cancer cells by injecting alcohol into the tumor

Embolization may be used for larger cancers that cannot be removed with surgery. It involves injecting substances into an artery in the liver. This decreases the liver's blood supply to cancer cells.

Other liver cancer treatments may include:

  • External or internal radiation—to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. This option may be used for cancer that:
  • Targeted therapy—drugs that attack cancer cells.
  • Immunotherapy—drugs that help the body fight off cancer.
  • Chemotherapy by mouth, injection, or IV— to kill cancer cells. This option may be used if other treatments cannot help and surgery cannot be done.

Prevention

The risk of liver cancer may be reduced by:

  • Having children get the hepatitis B vaccine
  • Drinking alcohol moderately
  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Practicing safe sex
  • Using clean needles—if injecting medicines or drugs

References

  • Embolization therapy for liver cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/liver-cancer/treating/embolization-therapy.html.
  • General information about adult primary liver cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/liver/patient/adult-liver-treatment-pdq.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hepatocellular-carcinoma-in-adults.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hepatocellular-carcinoma-in-children.
  • Jiang Y, Han QJ, et al. Hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms of progression and immunotherapy. World J Gastroenterol. 2019;25(25):3151-3167.
  • Liver cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/liver-cancer.html.
  • Management of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/management-of-hepatocellular-carcinoma-in-adults.

Library resources related to liver cancer.

For more information:

Internet Links
The detailed guide includes descriptions of the causes, risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, staging, treatments, and what's new in liver cancer research.
The American Liver Foundation facilitates, advocates and promotes education, supports and researches the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.
Information from the American Liver Foundation on liver cancer. Includes information on the liver, liver cancer, causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and prevention.
Link to a search of the MedlinePlus database for health information on liver cancer. MedlinePlus links are managed by medical librarians at the National Library of Medicine.
An electronic booklet about medical care for liver cancer from the National Cancer Institute. The booklet includes information on risk factors, diagnosis, staging, treatment, follow-up care, and cancer research.
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