Treatment options for liver tumors include: ablation, embolization, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiation and liver transplantation. The latter option presents less risk of recurrence and is, usually, employed for hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, for liver transplant, the five-year survival rate is of sixty to seventy percent. The criteria of qualification for liver transplant usually rely on the number of tumors. Eligible candidates usually present with one tumor (of less than five centimeters), or two or three tumors (of no more than three centimeters in diameter). Moreover, ideal candidates usually do not suffer from metastasized conditions and it is preferred for their cancer to not have spread to bones, lungs, lymph nodes or surrounding tissue.
Immunotherapy, New Targeted Therapy, Chemotherapy and Surgery
In terms of immunotherapy, primary and secondary liver cancer have become easily treatable due to the latest FDA-approved immunotherapy drug atezolizumab which is used with bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced liver cancer. In addition, new targeted therapy with sorafenib can lead to complete remission for late-stage liver cancer. Nevertheless, if the aforementioned therapies do not produce optimal results, the patient can benefit from traditional therapies such as chemotherapy and surgery.
However, the former has been proven ineffective against liver cancer on account of its short-lived effects and the fact that it only shrinks a small percentage of tumors. The best liver cancer doctor in Arizona affirms that signs that chemotherapy is not working for a particular patient include: the appearance of new tumors, the rapid spread of cancer and the failure to shrink the already existing tumors. As a result, drug combinations can often be more effective when associated with surgery that consists of: liver resection (removal of the tumor) and percutaneous ablation. The curative potential of surgery provides an optimistic perspective on the treatment of liver cancer be it advanced or at early stage level.
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy of patients suffering from liver cancer depends on the stage of the disease. For early stages, the five-year survival rate is of forty-five percent. Conversely, for stages in which the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, surrounding tissue and other organs, the five-year survival rate is of twelve percent. Moreover, life expectancy also depends on the type of liver cancer. For instance, hemangiosarcoma and angiosarcoma spread rapidly whereas hepatocellular carcinoma spreads at a slower pace.
In addition, primary cancer (in the liver or bile ducts) is considered life-threatening and fast growing as opposed to secondary liver cancer which is known to be more manageable. Furthermore, small liver cancers are fairly easy to deal with by means of treatment in the form of ablation and radiation.
Lastly, advanced liver cancer is not considered curable. It is only manageable in terms of symptom relief and improvement of life quality. As a result, aggressive treatment is often employed for stage-four cancer, but it rarely delivers results.
Without treatment, the average life expectancy is sixteen months. However, nutritional support can be employed to improve the quality of life. Patients are usually advised to eat fruits (such as watermelon, apples, oranges and berries) and grains (such as bread, pasta, oatmeal and rice) that can ease digestion.
Main Signs of Liver Cancer
Cirrhosis is the number one cause of liver cancer. However, diagnosis is not often established early on in the disease on account of the fact that the symptoms can be confused with other types of medical conditions. Early signs of liver cancer include: upper abdominal pain, vomiting, fatigue, jaundice and white stools. Similarly, late signs consist of: weakness and tiredness, unintentional weight and muscle loss, sleepiness, loss of appetite, difficulty eating, short attention span and loss of bladder and bowel control.
Early detection is vital and should be encouraged by means public education and active participation of GPs (general practitioners) in the lives of their patients. All in all, there are various treatment options for those who suffer from liver cancer. Moreover, prevention as well as palliative care should also play an important role in the therapeutic aid of cancer patients.