The liver is the largest organ in the body. It is located on the right side of the abdomen behind the ribs. The liver has many important functions. It detoxifies harmful substances, purifies your blood, manufactures vital nutrients, and helps with blood clotting.

Cancer that starts in the tissues of the liver is called primary liver cancer. The most common type of primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which arises from the liver cells themselves (hepatocytes). Another type, cholangiocarcinomas, is cancer that starts in the cells of the small tubes (bile ducts) of the liver. Angiosarcomas and hemangiosarcomas are rare forms of liver cancer that begin in the blood vessels of the liver and grow quickly. Hepatoblastoma is a rare type of liver cancer that develops in very young children.

More commonly, liver cancer is secondary, or metastatic. This means the cancer found in the liver did not start there, but spread (metastasized) to the liver from another part of the body, such as the colon, lungs, or breasts. In this case, it is named for the organ or tissue in which the cancer began (e.g., metastatic lung cancer to the liver).

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with liver cancer, or have been battling liver cancer for some time and are exploring your treatment options, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) can help. CTCA offers a comprehensive, individualized approach to liver cancer treatment. Our doctors and practitioners will empower you with information, listen to your concerns, and deliver an integrative liver cancer treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.

Often times, liver cancer does not present symptoms until it's in the later stages of the disease. However, when liver cancer symptoms do occur, they may include the following:

• Abdominal pain (on upper right side) and/or swelling
• Fatigue/weakness
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Darkened urine
• Nausea/vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Feeling very full after a small meal
• Itchy skin
• Enlarged veins that become visible through the skin

NOTE: It is important to remember that these symptoms may be attributed to a number of conditions other than liver cancer. Only a medical professional can make this determination.

A liver cancer diagnosis can make you feel shocked, scared and anxious. At CTCA, we are here to help you manage your feelings, make informed decisions about your care, and cope with the journey ahead. Our team of expert doctors and technologists use the latest liver cancer detection tools to locate cancer cells in your body, measure drug resistance, and develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

At CTCA, we provide a variety of innovative liver cancer treatment options and technologies that offer new hope for fighting the disease. The following are some liver cancer treatment options that may be used alone or in combination:

• Surgical resection (partial hepatectomy) is the surgical removal of the diseased portion(s) of the liver. In order to be considered for a liver resection, there must be enough healthy liver tissue remaining. Unfortunately, many liver cancer patients also have cirrhosis, a condition that causes irreversible scarring of the liver.
• Transplantation (total hepatectomy) is a surgical procedure in which the diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy, donor liver. This may be an option when the tumor is unresectable. Unfortunately, the opportunities for liver transplantation for cancer patients are limited.
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a procedure in which a thin, needle-like probe is placed in the liver tumor (using CT scans or ultrasound guidance), and then high-energy radio waves are released to heat and destroy the tumor.
• Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill liver cancer cells and/or to provide relief from symptoms such as pain. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external radiation), or from radioactive material inserted into the liver (internal radiation).
• Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to destroy liver cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy is given by mouth or intravenously (into a vein). Regional chemotherapy is given directly to the liver tumor through a catheter placed in the hepatic artery.
• Chemoembolization is a procedure in which chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into the blood vessels that feed the liver tumor in order to emobolize, or block the flow of blood to the diseased tissue.
• Biotherapy/Immunotherapy attempts to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight liver cancer, using agents such as monoclonal antibodies, growth factors and vaccines.

At CTCA, your care extends beyond conventional liver cancer treatments. Here, we understand you need extra support to cope with the side effects and other challenges that arise during treatment. Therefore, we also provide complementary medicine therapies, such as nutrition therapy, naturopathic medicine, mind-body medicine, spiritual support, and more. Our goal is to help you maintain your strength and improve your quality of life throughout your care.

When exploring your treatment options for liver cancer, it is important that you find knowledgeable and experienced doctors who will also take the time to answer your questions. At CTCA, we purposefully select physicians who can demonstrate a combination of medical expertise and attentive, compassionate care. Often, liver cancer is not diagnosed until it's in a later stage. Not only do our cancer experts have extensive experience in treating complex and late stage cancers, they also believe in your fight.

Here, you will have a multidisciplinary care team of doctors and practitioners assigned specifically to you. Depending on your needs, your care team may include medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, as well as pain management clinicians, dietitians, counselors, and even pastoral care staff. And, since they reside together in one location, your care team is able to collaborate regularly as a team to explore the most appropriate liver cancer treatments for you.

Furthermore, CTCA doctors and practitioners abide by a Mother Standard® of care, meaning we support you and your needs as we would our own mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, or other loved ones. Here, your care team will take the time to listen to you, answer your questions, and join alongside you to help you fight liver cancer.

Liver cancer affects each person differently. Your liver cancer treatment should reflect your unique situation and needs. As a patient at CTCA, you will have your very own team of cancer experts who are committed to caring for you as an individual.

Here, we recognize that you are more than just a “cancer patient.” You are a unique, whole person, with physical, psychological and spiritual needs. Your CTCA care team will work closely with you to develop a customized liver cancer treatment plan that is tailored to these needs. This plan will include personalized, integrative therapies to help you fight liver cancer on all levels—body, mind and spirit.

Throughout your liver cancer treatment, your CTCA care team will also encourage you to take an active role so you can feel more in control of your care. With our Patient Empowerment Medicine^SM model, we will work with you at whatever level you are comfortable to empower you with clear information, guidance and support the way you need it. At CTCA, you will receive the kind of care and personalized attention you need to fight liver cancer.

We understand you might be feeling overwhelmed by what’s ahead. At CTCA, we are here to help you in your journey towards healing. From the moment you step inside a CTCA hospital, you will discover a treatment center that is welcoming and positive—one which brings the concept of hope and healing to life.

Should you decide to become a patient at CTCA, we will handle all the details for you to make your arrival at one of our hospitals as seamless and stress-free as possible. Once you get here, all of your liver cancer treatment will be handled under one roof, with reduced wait times for appointments and test results, giving you more time to spend with family and friends. And, when your treatment is complete, our Aftercare Program will help you develop a plan for maintaining your health and taking the next steps in recovery.

Start your journey of healing and hope today. To learn more about your liver treatment options at CTCA, call us anytime at 888-841-9129. Our Oncology Information Specialists (OIS) are here for you 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to listen and help in the decision-making process. You can also send them an email or chat online.