In the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, we have formed a characteristic model of comprehensive sequential treatment mainly based on surgical treatment and combined with multiple means. We are the first in the region to perform various local treatments for liver cancer, including radiofrequency ablation therapy, interventional therapy, deep freezing, microwave curing and anhydrous alcohol injection.
In addition, the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery has also carried out more difficult surgeries such as radical resection of cholangiocarcinoma in the hilar region, radical resection of gallbladder cancer and radical resection of pancreatic cancer. In recent years, a multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment center for hepatocellular carcinoma has been established to provide multidisciplinary joint treatment for primary and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma, which significantly prolongs the survival time of patients.
What are the main causes of liver cancer?
Hepatitis B virus infection and liver cirrhosis: they are the most important causes of liver cancer in China. The chance of liver cancer in hepatitis B infected people is several times to tens of times higher than that in uninfected people.
Aflatoxin: Aflatoxin is produced when corn, peanut and other grains are enzymatically changed, and consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated grains can easily cause liver cancer.
Drinking water pollution: the incidence of liver cancer is significantly higher in people who drink unclean ditch water for a long time.
Other: long-term heavy drinking and consumption of raw fish lead to liver fluke infection.
What are the symptoms of liver cancer patients?
In the early stage, patients have no obvious symptoms, but with the development of the disease, the following symptoms or signs will gradually appear.
Distending pain or dull pain in the right upper abdomen, sometimes radiating to the right shoulder pain.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as loss of appetite, aversion to greasy food, nausea and vomiting.
Yellow staining of skin and sclera, sometimes patients themselves can palpate a lump in the right upper abdomen.
Others: fever, emaciation, weakness, ascites, swelling of both lower limbs, etc.
How to treat liver cancer to get good results?
Liver cancer is not an incurable disease. Early detection, early diagnosis and standardized comprehensive treatment in a specialized oncology hospital are the keys to improve the treatment effect.
Surgical resection or liver transplantation is the most effective treatment method, but it often needs to be combined with other methods to achieve the best results. Other methods include
① local ablation therapy.
(ii) hepatic artery intervention.
(iii) radiation therapy.
④Targeted drug therapy.
⑤ Others: systemic chemotherapy, Chinese medicine treatment, biological treatment, etc.
Optimism and confidence in overcoming the disease are essential to improve the efficacy of liver cancer. The saying that most cancers are “scared to death” may be a bit excessive, but it also fully illustrates the importance of a good attitude.
What are the most effective treatment methods for liver cancer?
Surgical resection and liver transplantation are the most effective treatment methods for liver cancer
1.Surgical resection is the first and most effective treatment method for liver cancer. As long as the patient’s liver function is basically normal, hepatectomy is preferred for patients with single tumor without extrahepatic metastasis and large blood vessel invasion.
2.Liver transplantation is another effective treatment method for liver cancer, which is mainly applicable to early stage patients. For patients with mid- to late-stage liver cancer, the long-term efficacy is not good. Due to the high cost and shortage of donor liver, it cannot be a routine treatment method yet.
How does hepatic artery intervention kill liver cancer cells?
Hepatic artery intervention is to insert a catheter through the femoral artery to the artery that nourishes the liver tumor under local anesthesia, and then infuse chemotherapy drugs and embolic agents through the catheter to block the tumor vessels, and the liver cancer cells will be necrosed due to ischemia and hypoxia. It is mainly applied to patients with intermediate and advanced stages who cannot be surgically removed.
What is radiofrequency ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma? Which patients are suitable for ablation therapy?
Radiofrequency ablation therapy refers to inserting the ablation needle accurately into the tumor tissue through the skin under ultrasound guidance, and then activating the ablation equipment, the ablation needle tip generates 90-120℃ high temperature locally to kill the tumor cells. Ablation therapy has the advantages of minimally invasive, safe and easy. As long as the right patient is selected, the efficacy can be comparable to that of surgical resection.
Radiofrequency ablation therapy is mainly applicable to patients with single liver cancer with maximum diameter ≤5cm; or patients with tumor number ≤3 and maximum diameter ≤3cm.
Are targeted drugs effective in treating liver cancer?
Since the 21st century, molecular targeted drugs represented by Doxorubicin (Sorafenib) have become an important means of liver cancer treatment. It mainly inhibits tumor cell proliferation and tumor neovascularization, thus stopping tumor growth or even causing complete tumor regression. It is mainly applied to patients with mid- to late-stage liver cancer and often needs to be combined with other treatments to improve the efficacy.
Who are vulnerable to liver cancer?
1. For men aged ≥40 or women aged ≥50, those who have one of the following conditions are prone to develop liver cancer
People infected with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus.
Those who consume moldy food or drink unclean pond water for a long time.
Those who drink a lot of alcohol for a long time.
Those who have a family history of liver cancer in their parents or siblings.
2. The above-mentioned people should insist on going to the hospital for liver cancer-related medical checkups every six months to one year to detect liver cancer early and receive timely treatment. The physical examination mainly includes liver function, methemoglobin and liver ultrasound.
Is liver cancer an infectious disease?
Liver cancer is a malignant disease that occurs in human body’s own cells without pathogens discharge, therefore, it is not contagious. People who have close contact with liver cancer have no more chance to get liver cancer than those who do not have contact with liver cancer patients, so there is no need to take isolation measures for liver cancer patients, and people who have contact with liver cancer patients need not be nervous and worried.
Can liver cancer patients survive for a long time?
The answer is affirmative. After early diagnosis and treatment of small liver cancer patients, surgical removal of some large liver cancers, and even some patients with recurrence and metastasis of liver cancer, with active treatment, it is possible to make their tree of life green again. There are a large number of long-term surviving patients in China who have survived for 20, 30 or even 40 years, and these are considered to be completely and thoroughly cured patients.
Why liver cancer patients need regular review after discharge from hospital?
As there is a high risk of recurrence after liver cancer surgery, regular review can detect and treat recurrent foci in time and significantly improve the therapeutic effect. Liver cancer patients should be reviewed every 1-2 months within six months after treatment; within six months to three years, they should be reviewed every 3-4 months; during 3-5 years, they should be reviewed every 4-6 months; after 5 years, they are still normal, they can be reviewed once every 6-12 months.