Liver cancer treatment options in China

Primary liver cancer starts in the liver itself. Most cases are HCC, and many occur in people with long-term liver disease such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or cirrhosis. Liver metastases are tumours that began elsewhere, often in the bowel, and then spread to the liver.

Treatment depends on the number and size of tumours, how well the liver is working, and your general health. Doctors often use staging systems that take all three into account.

For early HCC, options include surgery to remove part of the liver, liver transplant, and ablation, which destroys small tumours with heat. For tumours in the middle stages, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is often offered. It delivers chemotherapy and blocks the tumour's blood supply through the liver's arteries.

For advanced disease, targeted drugs and immunotherapy are used, sometimes with radiation. For liver metastases, treatment depends on the original cancer and may combine chemotherapy, surgery, ablation or radiation. Your liver specialist and oncologist guide this.

You may wish to ask if your tumour is not suitable for surgery, if it has come back after treatment, or if you have been told that few liver-directed options are available locally. Some Canadian patients also face long waits for specialist procedures.

Specialist teams review your scans first. They may suggest a procedure that could be combined with standard systemic treatment. Results vary, and every procedure carries risks such as bleeding, infection, liver injury or fever after treatment.