Liver Cancer Specialist

What is liver cancer?

Liver cancer is a form of cancer that destroys cells in your body’s largest glandular organ. The liver plays several roles essential to your well-being, including the metabolization of macronutrients, the storing of vitamins and minerals, and blood filtering.

There are a few different types of liver cancer, and the Houston Cancer Institute, PA, team can accurately diagnose:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a form of liver cancer that accounts for about 75% of all cases. It affects liver cells called hepatocytes and often develops after years or decades of excessive alcohol drinking. 

Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma develops in the bile ducts within the liver, which normally help with digestion. It’s the second most common type of liver cancer. 

Liver angiosarcoma

Liver angiosarcoma develops in your liver’s blood vessels and is a very rare form. It progresses quickly, and an official diagnosis usually means it’s in an advanced stage. 

Hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma is a rare liver cancer that almost always affects children under three. It has a very high cure rate. 

Am I at risk for liver cancer?

Like other forms of cancer, you can’t always predict accurately if or when you’ll get liver cancer. There are a few risk factors related to lifestyle that could put you at a higher risk. Risk factors for liver cancer include:

• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Long-term hepatitis infections
• Obesity and diabetes
• Exposure to aflatoxin (a toxin that comes from certain types of mold)
• Being 50 or older

Whether or not these risk factors apply to you, you should be aware of some possible distinctive signs and symptoms of liver cancer. You should book a specialist assessment and possible liver tissue biopsy at the Houston Cancer Institute, PA, if you experience jaundice, white or chalky stools, or abdominal pain. 

What are my treatment options for liver cancer?

The team at the Houston Cancer Institute, PA, develops a treatment plan for you based on the stage of your liver cancer and other factors, like other health conditions you have. While surgery may be an option in some cases to remove a portion of the liver or replace the liver with a transplant, this is usually not necessary.

Houston Cancer Institute, PA, offers several treatments for liver cancer like:

Surgery

Liver cancer surgery involves the removal of the cancerous tumor within the liver. The goal is to remove the entirety of the tumor to prevent any future complications and optimize the recovery. 

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment for cancer that assists your immune system with eliminating cancer cells. It works by blocking the proteins on cancerous cells that help them escape detection by your immune system. 

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer that uses strong medications to destroy cancer cells. Usually, you get the treatment via infusion therapy on an outpatient basis. The team monitors you closely as you undergo chemotherapy for side effects and signs of infection. 

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy targets and shrinks tumors on the liver using X-ray beams or other forms of energy. 

Cryoablation

Cryoablation freezes the cancerous cells in your liver to damage them. Your physician uses ultrasound imaging to guide an instrument called a cryoprobe to your liver tumors and freezes them with liquid nitrogen.

Radiofrequency ablation

In a procedure somewhat similar to cryoablation, your physician uses an electrical current to damage liver tumor cells.

Staging your cancer 

To determine the best treatment for your  cancer, the team at the Houston Cancer Institute, PA, stages your cancer using state-of-the-art Cat Scan or PET/CT imaging.

The scans show how large the tumor is, how deeply it extends , and whether it's spread to other areas. This will help our team at the Houston Cancer Institute, PA  identify what stage of cancer you  have and tailor your treatment plan to that stage for optimal outcomes and recovery. 

For advanced liver cancer diagnostic and treatment services, call Houston Cancer Institute, PA, or request an appointment online today.