Treatments

The appropriate treatment depends on the patient and his stage of cancer. Over the years different types of treatment have been developed thanks to extensive research on liver cancer. However these treatments do not account for a complete cure. The problem is the belated discovery of the cancer. In most cases primary liver is first diagnosed at an advanced stage leaving little hope for recovery.

Types of treatment:

• Percutaneous ethanol (alcohol) injection

In this therapy, alcohol is injected directly into the tumor through a thin needle with the help of ultrasound guidance. Alcohol destroys tumor cells and therefore reduces the size of the tumor. The treatment should be administered several times.

• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy

In this treatment, a probe is inserted in the center of the tumor. The probe is heated by a high frequency, alternating current. The local heat melts the tissue that is nearby the probe. Consequently the tumor is minimised.

• Chemoembolization (trans-arterial chemoembolization or TACE)

The ambition of this treatment is to block the blood supply of the tumor. Like all tissues blood feeds the tumor with oxygen and nourishment. To intermit the blood supply of the tumor the physicians inject different types of compounds, such as gelfoam or even small metal coils, near the cancer. The blood vessels are blocked and the tumor blood supply is compressed.

• Proton beam therapy

This technique is able to deliver high doses of radiation to a defined local area. The radiation damages the cell's DNA, ultimately causing their death.

• Interstitial Laser Photocoagulation

This technique involves the insertion of a thin optical fiber into the center of the liver tumor and a laser light is emitted from the tip. The exposed cells literally melt away.

• Chemotherapie

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. This form of therapy is usually combined with other treatments.

• Surgery

Surgery is the most effective treatment for the primary liver cancer. A surgery can however only take place when the tumor is less than 5 cm, confined to the liver and the blood vessels show no signs of invasion.

There are three possibilities of surgery: Liver resection (removing only the affected part of the liver), Lobectomy (removing a hole lobe of the liver) and Liver transplantation (removing the whole liver and replacing it with a liver from another person)