Liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma, is a serious cancer that occurs more often in men than in women, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Usually developing in patients between the ages of 50 and 60, liver cancer is also common in parts of Africa and Asia. The main cause of liver cancer is scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis. Sadly, the survival rate of liver cancer is very low: only 10 to 20 percent of tumors are removed completely, according to the NIH. If the cancer is not fully removed, fatality occurs within three to six months.
Treatment
Treatment is a large part of living with liver cancer. If the cancer is diagnosed early, aggressive surgery or a liver transplant can be done. However, according to the NIH, few liver cancer patients are diagnosed early. Larger tumors are harder to remove, which lessens the patient's chance of survival. Two other common cancer treatments, chemotherapy and radiation, are not as effective with liver cancer. These two treatments shrink the size of the tumor, enabling an easier surgery. The NIH notes that the oral medication Nexavar, or sorafenib toslate, has been approved for liver cancer patients; Nexavar blocks the tumor's growth.
Support
Emotional support is an essential part of living with liver cancer. The NIH recommends that patients join a support group, either one held by their hospitals or an online group. The National Cancer Institute has resources for patients that connect them to other liver cancer patients. Another option for patients is to get support from people close to them, such as friends and family members. The Mayo Clinic emphasizes the importance of talking to someone. If the patient is religious, he can talk to a religious official, such as a priest. Other patients may benefit from seeing a psychologist, especially if the liver cancer diagnosis has lead to anxiety or depression.
Making a Plan
Since the survival rate of liver cancer patients is low, the Mayo Clinic recommends making a plan for the "unknown." This includes the patient making a will and discussing end-of-life care with his doctor. In addition, the patient may also want to talk to family about his plans and what might happen.
