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Medical Video: New Treatment for Liver Cancer
Chemotherapy, often called chemo, is commonly used as a treatment for cancer to kill cancer cells.
Systemic chemotherapy is used throughout the body. In this treatment, anti-cancer drugs will be injected or given orally. These chemicals will enter the bloodstream and can affect other body parts. Systemic chemotherapy is not used to treat liver cancer because the frequency of liver cancer rejects chemo drugs. The most effective drugs like systemic chemotherapy in liver cancer are doxorubicin (Adriamycin), 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin.
Chemo drugs can shrink only a small part of the tumor. Chemo drugs are often used to treat cancer second / other or used before liver surgery to reduce tumor size. This drug can also be used after surgery or cryotherapy to remove the remaining cancer cells. Because chemo drugs can affect many parts, this drug can be used to treat cancer that has spread to other organs. It can also be used as a palliative treatment to slow the progression of cancer and reduce pain.
Because systemic chemotherapy cannot target cancer cells in the liver, this can affect healthy cells in the body and cause unwanted side effects. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weakness, fatigue and loss of appetite. The effect of chemo on your body and its severity depends on your overall health, liver function, and if you have advanced cirrhosis.
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)
Chemoembolization or TACE is a combination of chemotherapy and embolization which helps target cancer cells in the liver. In this treatment, chemo drugs will be given directly to cancer cells and sealed with embolization. With this treatment, doctors can use stronger drugs without causing many side effects from systemic chemotherapy by directly targeting the tumor. TACE is rarely used for second cancer.
Before the procedure, you may be given local anesthesia and some medicines to calm down. During the procedure, the chemo drug is injected through a catheter, a long, thin tube into the liver arteries. Then, the chemo substance will be inserted into the tube. This drug will move into the arteries and move to the tumor. Gelatin will be inserted into a smaller artery that leads to the tumor. This blockage of arteries, keeps chemotherapy in the tumor and keeps the cancer away from oxygen and nutrients.
Usually this treatment is given only once, or every few months. Every time after TACE treatment, you need to remain lying for several hours. You may also need to stay overnight in the hospital or a few days.
You should discuss with your doctor all treatment options for liver cancer. Depending on your condition and level of cancer, TACE might be your choice.
