Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, and one of the most common solid cancers in the world. It most often occurs in adults who have chronic liver disease from any cause, but most commonly viral hepatitis, or alcoholic or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the US. It is often a complication of cirrhosis but can rarely be seen in otherwise healthy livers.
HCC is largely asymptomatic until it is very advanced. As the tumor progresses, there may be some symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, or nausea. As the tumor fills the liver, liver function may get worse causing jaundice, swelling or confusion. Sometimes, pain or rarely bleeding into the abdomen may occur. It is standard of care for patients with cirrhosis and high-risk chronic liver disease to undergo regular monitoring to check for the development of HCC.
Outcomes are generally more favorable when HCC is diagnosed and treated in its earliest stages. Our team understands the emotional stress on a patient and their family can be great during a lengthy evaluation. To reduce the amount of time that elapses between diagnosis and treatment, the Texas Liver Tumor Center has developed a one-day comprehensive patient evaluation process. Individuals who come to us with HCC are evaluated by a multispecialty team of experts, receive valuable education on their condition, and leave with a comprehensive treatment plan on the same day.
Hepatocellular Treatments
Some of the treatments we offer include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Intra-arterial embolization
- Tumor ablation
- Surgical liver resection
- Liver transplantation, including living donor transplantation
Our clinical trials program is also designed to help patients maximize their treatment options to include new therapies that are currently being studied by our research team. Our partner, the Mays Cancer Center, home to the UT Health MD Anderson Cancer Center, is a NIH National Cancer Center-designated Cancer Center. Because of this partnership, our patients can access the latest advances in HCC treatment at our facility.
For more information about HCC or the liver cancer treatments offered at the Texas Liver Tumor Center, contact us today. We welcome patients from across the nation, with or without referrals.