Cancer that starts in your liver is called liver cancer, or primary liver cancer. Most liver cancer starts in another organ and then spreads to the liver, also called secondary liver cancer
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Research and clinical trials at UC Health and around the world have changed the way we treat cancer. With more treatment options and better survival rates than ever before, we offer hope in the face of cancer. At UC Health, we provide options to successfully treat liver cancer. In addition, we offer several clinical trials for patients with Liver cancer that may change the current standard of care.
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A diagnosis of liver disease can feel overwhelming. We understand what you’re experiencing and are here to support you and your family every step of the way. Our experienced team includes experts on everything from your surgery to your medication to your emotional well-being.
To schedule an appointment, please call the Liver Transplant team at 513-584-9999.
We focus the expertise of the region’s most advanced gastrointestinal cancer team on delivering only the best results. Our nationally recognized cancer subspecialists offer you access to standard therapies as well as the latest treatments and leading-edge clinical trials.
To schedule an appointment, please call the UC Gastrointestinal Cancer team at 513-585-UCCC.
The liver is a large, pyramid-shaped organ that lies behind the ribs on the right side of the body. It’s under the right lung. It is divided into right and left lobes.
The liver helps break down nutrients. These include sugars, starch, fats, and proteins. It also stores some of these. The liver also makes proteins, such as albumin. This helps the body balance fluids. It also makes clotting factors, which help blood thicken or clot when a person is bleeding. Bile made in the liver is important for digesting food and for other bodily functions.
One of the liver’s most important jobs is to filter out and destroy toxins in the body. When the liver isn’t working well, chemicals can build up inside the body and cause damage.
The main types of primary liver cancer include:
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. About 10–20% of all liver cancers are cholangiocarcinomas. These cancers start in the bile ducts. These are small tubes where bile leaves the liver and goes into the gallbladder and intestines during digestion. This type of cancer can also start in the bile ducts outside the liver.
Hepatoblastoma. This is a rare liver cancer often found in children.
Angiosarcoma. This is another uncommon form of liver cancer. It starts in blood vessels inside the liver.
Several types of non-cancerous (benign) tumors can also form in the liver. These include hemangiomas, hepatic adenomas, and focal nodular hyperplasia. These tumors don’t spread to other parts of the body. But they can still cause problems if they grow large enough.
Liver cancer often does not cause symptoms in its early stages. In fact, many liver cancers do not cause symptoms until they have grown fairly large.
People with liver cancer may have these symptoms.
Many of these symptoms can be caused by other health problems. But it is important to see your healthcare provider if you have these symptoms. Only a healthcare provider can tell if you have liver cancer.
Being told you have liver cancer can be scary, and you may have many questions. But you have people on your healthcare team to help.
It’s normal to feel afraid. Learning about your cancer and about the treatment options you have can make you feel less afraid. This also helps you work with your health care team and make the best choices for your treatment. You can also ask to speak with a counselor.
You’ll likely have different types of doctors on your healthcare team. These might include:
Many other healthcare providers will be part of your team as well. They will answer any questions you may have. They’ll help you through each of the steps you’ll take before, during, and after treatment. Your team will let you know what tests you need and the results of those tests. They’ll guide you in making treatment decisions and help prepare you and your loved ones for what’s ahead.
To decide the best course of treatment for you, your healthcare team needs to know as much as they can about your cancer. This may involve getting some tests and working with more than one healthcare provider. And you may decide that you want to get a second opinion to help you choose a treatment.
tumor board dedicated to patients with Liver Cancer to discuss the treatment options available.
The UC Cancer offers the following comprehensive treatment options for liver cancer:
Transplantation
Surgical removal
Catheter based treatments
Transarterial chemoembolization
Radioembolization
Ablation procedures
External radiation treatments
Proton Therapy
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Additionally, several treatment options are available only within clinical trials specifically for patients with liver cancer.
Coping with cancer can be very stressful. Talk with your healthcare team about seeing a counselor. They can refer you to someone who can help. You can also join support groups to talk with other people coping with liver cancer. Ask your healthcare team about local or online support groups.
What does the stage of cancer mean?
The stage of a cancer is how much and how far the cancer has spread in your body. Your healthcare provider uses exams and tests to find out the size of the cancer and where it is. He or she can also see if the cancer has grown into nearby areas, and if it has spread to other parts of your body. The stage of a cancer is one of the most important things to know when deciding how to treat the cancer.
The TMN system for liver cancer
Several systems can be used to divide liver cancer into stages. Doctors in different parts of the world might use different systems. In the U.S., the most commonly used system to stage liver cancer is the TNM system from the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider to explain the stage of your cancer in a way you can understand.
The first step in staging is to find the value for each part of the TMN system. Here's what the letters stand for:
Here is what the letters mean in the TNM system:
Numbers or letters after T, N, and M provider more details about each of these factors. There are also 2 other values that can be assigned:
Once your doctor knows your T, N, and M status, he or she uses this information to assign the cancer an overall stage grouping. Stage groupings are determined by combining the T, N, and M values from the TNM system. These groupings give an overall description of your cancer.
A stage grouping can have a value of 1 to 4 and are written as Roman numerals, I, II, III, and IV. The higher the number, the more advanced the cancer. Letters and numbers can be used after the Roman numeral to give more details.
These are the stage groupings of liver cancer and what they mean:
Stage I. The cancer has not spread to lymph nodes or to organs in other parts of the body. This stage is divided into 2 sub-groups:
Stage IA. There is only 1 tumor in the liver. It's 2 cm or less across and has not grown into any blood vessels.
Stage IB. There is only 1 tumor in the liver that's more than 2 cm across and has not grown into any blood vessels. It has not spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Stage II. Either there is only 1 tumor in the liver that's more than 2 cm across and has not grown into any blood vessels. Or, there's more than 1 tumor, but 1 of them is more than 5 cm across. There is no spread to lymph nodes or to organs in other parts of the body.
Stage III. The cancer has not spread to lymph nodes or to organs in other parts of the body. This stage is divided into 2 sub-groups.
Stage IIIA. There are many tumors in the liver and at least 1 is more than 5 cm across.
Stage IIIB. The cancer is growing into a branch of one of the main blood vessels in the liver (the portal or hepatic veins).
Stage IV. This stage is divided into 2 sub-groups.
Stage IVA. Tumors can be of any size, and the cancer has spread into lymph nodes near the liver. The cancer has not spread to organs in other parts of the body.
Once your cancer is staged, your healthcare provider will talk with you about what the stage means for your treatment. Your doctor will look at other factors, too. For example, before doing surgery to remove the tumor, your doctor will want to know how the rest of your liver is working. He or she will want to be sure that there would be enough healthy liver remaining after surgery. Make sure to ask any questions or talk about your concerns.
Talking with healthcare providers about your liver cancer can be overwhelming. It can be hard to take in all of the information. It helps to be prepared. Make a list of questions and bring them to your appointments. Write the answers down in a notebook. Make sure you ask how the treatment might change your daily life, including your diet, and how you will look and feel after treatment. Ask how successful the treatment is expected to be, and what the risks and possible side effects are. You may also want to ask a friend or family member to go with you. He or she can take notes and write down the answers, and also ask questions you may not think of. You can also ask your health care provider if you can record the conversation.
Below are some questions to ask during your checkups. Not all of these might apply to your situation. But asking the questions that do apply can help you get a better idea of what to expect.
When you have answers from your healthcare provider, it’s time to think about your preferences. Think about what side effects you can and can’t tolerate. Talk about your concerns with your healthcare provider before making a decision about treatment.
At UC Health, we lead the region in scientific discoveries and embrace a spirit of purpose – offering our patients and their families something beyond everyday healthcare. At UC Health, we offer hope.