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Liver Cancer Prognosis |
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If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with liver cancer, the prognosis is, understandably, of utmost concern. It's natural, when facing this difficult situation, to try to learn as much as you can, to gather as much information as possible. This can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed, confused, frustrated, or all three. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) we help you sort through the information, to not only understand the disease, the available treatment methods, and your liver cancer prognosis, but to assist you in creating an individualized, comprehensive treatment plan.
The prognosis of liver cancer depends on many variables. The extent of the disease, whether it's metastasized, or spread throughout the body, and overall physical health all impact a person's liver cancer prognosis. At CTCA we are committed to using every means possible to improve your liver cancer prognosis, and your overall health and standard of living. Upon admittance, your treatment team will rally around you, working with you to develop an integrative suite of treatment methods, all of which will take place under one roof in a caring, nurturing environment unlike that found in most medical facilities.
Liver Cancer - Symptoms
As with any cancer, the earlier the disease is detected, more receptive it is to treatment and the better the liver cancer prognosis. Liver cancer presents a challenge, as in the early stages it generally does not cause symptoms. In later stages symptoms develop as follows:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Sustained lack of appetite
- Feeling full, even after a very small meal
- Liver swelling, or a mass that can be felt in the liver area
- Chronic stomach pain
- Swelling in the stomach area
- Jaundice - a yellowish coloring to the skin and eyes
- Patients who have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis become more ill
While these are symptoms of liver cancer, they can indicate other health conditions as well. If you experience these health problems please see a health professional as soon as possible for accurate diagnosis. The sooner any medical issue is properly diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated, and the better the prognosis of liver cancer or any other condition.
Liver Cancer - Staging and Prognosis
Several diagnostic techniques help your doctor determine the progression, or stage, of the disease. This information can lead to a more accurate liver cancer prognosis, and aid in your team's development of a comprehensive treatment plan. Liver cancer is generally staged using the American Joint Committee on Cancer's TNM system, which assesses the size and location of the Tumor, whether the cancer has invaded regional lymph nodes, and the extent of the cancer's metastasis.
- T Staging
- T1 - Single tumor that hasn't invaded blood vessels;
- T2 - Single tumor that has invaded blood vessels OR multiple tumors smaller than 5 cm. in diameter;
- T3 - Multiple tumors greater than 5 cm in diameter, OR a tumor involving a major blood vessel;
- T4 - Tumor invading nearby organ (other than the gallbladder), OR tumor invading the covering surrounding the liver (the visceral peritoneum
- N Staging
- NX - Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed;
- N0 - The cancer has not spread to regional lymph nodes;
- N1 - The cancer has spread to regional lymph nodes.
- M Staging
- MX - Distant metastasis cannot be assessed;
- M0 - The cancer has not spread to distant organs or lymph nodes;
- M1 - The cancer has spread to distant organs and/or lymph nodes.
The TMN stages are then combined into an overall staging labeled using Roman numerals 0 through IV (0-4); the higher the stage, the more advanced the disease. Staging is a vitally necessary step in the treatment of liver cancer, as the stage of the disease determines the course of treatment and helps inform a more accurate liver cancer prognosis.
The type of the disease also helps determine a liver cancer prognosis. Secondary liver cancer is cancer that began elsewhere in the body, most commonly the bowel, breast, pancreas, stomach, lung, or ovary, and metastasized, or spread, to the liver (this is why it's also referred to as metastatic liver cancer). A secondary or metastatic liver cancer prognosis depends upon the disease's origin. In addition, the secondary liver cancer prognosis depends both upon the severity of the disease in its point of origin, but upon the extent of metastasis, or how far the cancer has spread throughout the body.
Treatment at CTCA
Your treatment team will work closely with you and your family to develop a comprehensive plan based upon the extent of your disease and your liver cancer prognosis. Your comprehensive treatment program will consist of traditional methods such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery; innovative techniques such as chemoembolization; and complementary or alternative therapies, combined to address your specific health issues and improve your liver cancer prognosis. A holistic plan usually contains therapies from many disciplines, as cancer affects your mind, body, and spirit; as such, your state of mind, your overall health, and your emotional state can affect your liver cancer prognosis.
If you have any questions or need any additional information about the treatments available at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and how we will bring together a team to improve your liver cancer prognosis, please don't hesitate to contact our Oncology Information Specialists either via online chat, e-mail, or phone at 800-615-3055. Our OIS team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to confidentially answer your questions about CTCA and how we can help you improve your liver cancer prognosis.
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