Diagnosis of Liver Cancer

• Blood tests: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels

• Imaging: Ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET scan

• Biopsy: Confirms cancer type and stage

• Liver function tests: Assess organ condition before treatment

Treatment Options for Liver Cancer

Treatment depends on tumor size, liver function, spread of cancer, and overall health of the patient.

1. Surgery

• Hepatectomy: Removal of the cancerous part of the liver.

• Liver Transplant: Entire diseased liver replaced with a healthy donor liver (for advanced cirrhosis with liver cancer).

2. Minimally Invasive Procedures

• TACE (Transarterial Chemoembolization): Injecting chemotherapy directly into the liver tumor’s blood supply and blocking blood flow.

• TARE (Transarterial Radioembolization): Similar to TACE but uses radioactive particles.

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Heat destroys cancer cells.

• Microwave Ablation: Uses microwave energy to kill tumor cells.

3. Systemic Therapies

• Targeted Therapy: Drugs like Sorafenib, Lenvatinib, Regorafenib act on cancer growth pathways.

• Immunotherapy: Drugs such as Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab boost the immune system against cancer.

• Chemotherapy: Less commonly used but sometimes given in advanced cases.

4. Palliative Care

• Symptom relief and supportive treatment in advanced stages.

Cost of Liver Cancer Treatment in India

The cost depends on the stage of disease, treatment approach, and hospital infrastructure.

Table 1: Average Liver Cancer Treatment Cost in India

Factors Affecting Liver Cancer Treatment Cost

1. Stage of cancer – early-stage may only need ablation or resection, while advanced stages may require transplant or systemic therapy.

2. Liver condition – cirrhosis or hepatitis may complicate treatment and recovery.

3. Type of hospital – transplant centers and specialized oncology hospitals charge more.

4. Medication choice – patented targeted or immunotherapy drugs significantly increase costs.

5. Number of sessions – TACE or systemic therapy may require multiple cycles.