Liver Cancer

Your liver more than pulls its weight in the job it does for your body. So when liver cancer caused by cirrhosis or other conditions impacts its ability to function, our specialists are here to help.

Symptoms of Liver Cancer

As with many types of cancer, signs of liver cancer often do not appear until the disease has reached a more advanced stage.

When they do appear, signs of liver cancer may include:

• Fatigue
• Itching
• Yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• Weight loss
• Right upper abdominal pain, swelling, and tenderness
• Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite

Am I At Risk for Liver Cancer?

Chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis B and C, and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) are the most common risk factors for liver cancer. You also may be at higher risk for liver cancer if you:

• Have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
• Have primary biliary cirrhosis (damage to the bile ducts in the liver)
• Have an inherited conditions such as Wilson’s disease or hemochromatosis
• Have diabetes
• Have high cholesterol
• Are obese
• Are a heavy alcohol drinker
• Smoke

Types of Liver Cancer

There are two main types of liver cancer:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma: Cancer of the cells of the liver (called hepatocytes). The most common type of liver cancer in adults, hepatocellular carcinoma may begin as a single tumor or as many small nodules.
• Cholangiocarcinoma: Cancer of the ducts that carry bile to the gallbladder. 

Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma are rarer cancers that occur in cells lining the blood vessels of the liver. Hepatoblastoma is a type of liver cancer that develops in children.

Cancer also can start elsewhere in the body, such as the pancreas, colon, or stomach, and spread to the liver. This is called secondary liver cancer. In the United States, secondary (metastatic) liver cancer is more common than cancer that begins in the liver.

Liver Cancer Diagnosis at Virtua

• Blood work to measure your liver function and blood clotting, as well as the presence of proteins that indicate you may have a liver tumor (tumor marker). Your doctor also may look to see if you have hepatitis B or C, both causes of liver cancer.
• Imaging tests, including MRI with and without contrast, “triple-phase” CT that provides cross-sectional images of your liver and other abdominal organs, and ultrasound.
• Biopsy, in which a sample of liver tissue is taken to see if it is cancer.

Doctors specializing in hepatology (liver disease), surgery, diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology will review your tests and determine the best treatment for you. 

Liver Cancer Treatment at Virtua

Treatment for your liver cancer will depend on the extent (stage) of your cancer, your age, and overall health.

Treating liver cancer often requires a team of specialists, including hepatologists, interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and surgeons who work together to develop a personalized treatment plan for you.

Treatment options our multidisciplinary team may recommend include:

• Chemoembolization: The injection of strong anti-cancer medication directly to the liver.
• Radioembolization: The placement of tiny spheres containing radiation directly into the liver tumor. 
• Proton therapy: A painless, noninvasive treatment that uses a beam of high-energy protons to precisely target and get rid of cancer cells.
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT): A treatment that delivers precise doses of radiation to cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy: Uses your body’s own immune system to rid the body of cancer.
• Surgery: The removal (resection) of the portion of the liver, bile ducts, or other organs containing the cancer.
• Liver transplant: Your diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy liver from a donor.

The Virtua team also treats benign, or noncancerous liver tumors. These include hemangiomas, hepatic adenomas, and focal nodular hyperplasia (FHN). The growths may be treated with medication or surgery.