There is no authoritative clinical data indicating how long the patients can live after surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma. Generally speaking, if early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma is treated with surgery in time, the 5-year survival rate after surgery can reach 70%; if intermediate-late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma is treated with surgery, the 5-year survival rate after surgery is not more than 20%. How long can a patient live after surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma needs to be judged according to the patient’s condition. If the patient has early stage hepatocellular carcinoma and undergoes timely surgical treatment, the 5-year survival rate of most of the patients after surgery is 70%. However, if the hepatocellular carcinoma is in middle or late stage, the 5-year survival rate after surgery is not more than 20%. However, with the rapid advancement of medical technology, patients can undergo radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and other treatments after surgery, which can effectively prolong the survival period of patients. The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma lies in early detection and early treatment, with a view to obtaining a possible cure.