Liver Cancer Treatment in Indore

Liver Cancer - Detailed Description

Liver cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the liver cells. The most common form is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which begins in the main liver cells (hepatocytes). Less commonly, cancer may develop in the bile ducts inside the liver (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) or metastasise to the liver from other organs. Liver cancer is often aggressive and may be detected late due to subtle early symptoms.

Causes & Risk Factors

Liver cancer usually arises in the setting of underlying liver disease. Risk factors include:

Chronic hepatitis B or C infection

Cirrhosis due to alcohol, fatty liver disease, or other causes

Obesity and diabetes

Aflatoxin exposure (contaminated food)

Genetic disorders (e.g., hemochromatosis)

Smoking

Symptoms

Early-stage liver cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. Advanced disease can present with:

Unintentional weight loss

Loss of appetite

Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen

Swelling in the abdomen - ascites

Nausea and Vomiting

Jaundice, yellowing of skin and eyes

Fatigue and weakness

Enlargement of the liver or spleen

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves imaging, lab tests, and biopsy:

Ultrasound: Primary examination, particularly in high-risk individuals

CT scan or MRI: helps determine the tumour size, location, and extent of spread

Blood tests - LFTs and tumour markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

Biopsy – confirms cancer type when imaging is inconclusive

Angiography - this is rarely used to evaluate the blood supply to the tumour

Overview Treatment

Treatment depends on tumour size, location, liver function, and overall health. Liver cancer often requires a multimodal approach.

1. Surgery

Hepatectomy-liver resection, where the tumour and surrounding liver are removed

Liver transplantation – for patients with localised cancer and poor liver function (e.g., cirrhosis)

2. Ablation Therapy

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation: small tumours are destroyed by heat.

Cryoablation: This uses freezing techniques to kill the cancer cells.

3. Transarterial Therapy

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) – delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumour while blocking its blood supply

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) – delivers radioactive particles to shrink the tumour

4. Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may be used for tumours not suitable for surgery

5. Targeted Therapy & Immunotherapy

Sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib - targeted drugs for advanced HCC

Immunotherapy: checkpoint inhibitors like nivolumab or pembrolizumab in selected cases

6. Palliative Care

Symptom management, such as for pain, jaundice, and fluid accumulation

Nutritional support and quality-of-life interventions

Outlook

Prognosis depends on the stage, liver function, and response to treatment.

Early detection combined with surgical intervention generally yields the best results.

Advanced liver cancer has a poorer prognosis, but newer therapies do help improve quality of life and survival.

Prevention & Monitoring

Hepatitis B vaccination

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Reducing alcohol consumption, managing obesity

Ultrasound and AFP every 6 months for early detection in high-risk patients. Follow up with imaging and blood tests to detect recurrence post-treatment