Liver cancer is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a disease of the cells in the liver. In many cases this type of cancer spreads from other parts of the body in a process called metastasizing, from a primary or original location to the liver. Cancer that originates in the liver is a rare condition, and treatment may be possible if diagnosed early. Treatments and prognosis will be based on individual case management, the primary source of the cancer, the stage the cancer is in and the overall health and condition of the individual.
Instructions
1. Schedule a visit with your physician if you notices signs of liver cancer in yourself or a loved one. Some of the early signs of cancer may include but are not limited to increasing fatigue or weakness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal swelling and an enlarged liver (which may be felt by your physician just below the right side of the rib cage).
2. Ask about treatment options. Options will depend on the type of cancer that is diagnosed. The most common type of liver cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma. However, children diagnosed with hepatoblastoma are successfully treated upon early diagnosis.
3. Decide whether or not surgery is an option for you. Surgery is often the best choice for a localized cancer. Resection (removal) of damaged liver tissue often results in a good prognosis when accompanied by chemotherapy or radiation treatments or drug therapies by your oncologist (cancer doctor).
4. Undergo an injection of alcohol into small tumors if recommended by your oncologist. Individuals may need only one injection, though some need multiple treatments depending on the size and location of the cancer tumor.
5. Agree to radiation or chemotherapy if suggested by your physician in conjunction with surgery or other liver cancer treatment options for optimal results and prognosis. Addition treatments for liver cancer may include chemoemobolization, which is similar to chemotherapy except that anti-cancer drugs are injected into the liver organ rather than through the bloodstream. Other treatment options include a liver transplant, or a new drug called sorafenib, designed for use in those with inoperable or advanced liver cancer. Some treatments are not designed as a cure for liver cancer, but may slow down cancer growth and add years to the life of a cancer patient.
6. Take prescribed drugs suggested by your oncologist. The most common drugs for the treatment of cancer of the liver used in chemotherapy include 5 - Fluorouracil (5 FU) and Leucovorin. Other drugs used to fight liver cancer include systemic drug regimens such as FU, Tomudex and Mitomycin C, which are given intravenously.
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