The liver is an organ that is responsible for filtering wastes, making bile and storing glycogen. Liver cancer occurs when cancer cells grow and multiply in the liver. Cancer may begin in the liver (primary liver cancer) or metastasize to the liver from another organ. Treatment plans will be individualized based on the stage and grade of your cancer, as well as your overall health.
Surgery
Surgery may be a treatment option for liver cancer. Surgery is done either to remove the tumor or to do a liver transplant, according to the American Cancer Society. Your surgeon will try to remove the affected area and surrounding tissue. Liver ablation is another surgical option that destroys cancer cells with a tiny electrode. A liver transplant may be an option if the disease is confined to the liver. A donor liver would need to be available that was a suitable match. You may be treated with medications and radiation while you wait for a donor liver to become available.
Radiation Therapy
During radiation therapy, high-energy X-ray beams are used to kill cancer cells and keep them from multiplying. Radiation may be given internally or externally. External radiation is when radioactive waves are delivered from a machine outside the body to the affected area. During internal beam radiation, seeds or catheters are placed near the liver that give off radiation internally. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated, reports the National Cancer Institute.
Chemotherapy
According to the National Cancer Institute, chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given orally in the form of a pill, or intravenously through a vein or port. Chemotherapy may also be given locally through the hepatic vein directly into the liver (regional chemotherapy).
