Liver Cancer & Liver Tumours — Treatment in Lucknow
Liver cancer includes primary cancer that begins in the liver (often on a background of long-standing liver disease) and secondary cancer that has spread to the liver from elsewhere, such as the bowel. For suitable patients, surgery to remove the affected part of the liver offers the best chance of cure — made possible by the liver's remarkable ability to regenerate.
Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma treats liver tumours in Lucknow at Medanta, performing liver resections within a fully supported hepatobiliary and oncology programme.
What is liver cancer?
Primary liver cancer (most commonly hepatocellular carcinoma) often develops in livers affected by chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Secondary (metastatic) liver cancer is cancer that has spread to the liver, most often from colorectal cancer — and, importantly, can sometimes still be cured by surgery. The liver can regenerate after a large portion is removed, which is what makes liver surgery possible.
Symptoms to watch for
- Often none in the early stages
- Discomfort or a mass in the upper-right abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
- Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice) in some cases
- Tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell
Causes & risk factors
- Chronic hepatitis B or C and cirrhosis (for primary liver cancer)
- Long-standing fatty liver disease
- Heavy alcohol use
- Spread from another cancer, especially bowel cancer (for secondary tumours)
How it is diagnosed
- Contrast CT or MRI of the liver
- Blood tests including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for primary liver cancer
- Assessment of liver function and the underlying liver
- Multidisciplinary review to plan treatment
How liver cancer is treated
When a tumour can be removed and enough healthy liver will remain, surgical resection offers the best chance of cure. For secondary (for example colorectal) liver metastases, resection — often combined with chemotherapy — can achieve long-term survival and cure in well-selected patients. Other options, such as ablation, are used in specific situations.
Liver surgery requires careful assessment of both the tumour and the underlying liver. Dr Verma plans each case in a multidisciplinary team and performs liver resections within Medanta's high-dependency surgical setting.
When to see a GI surgeon
- A liver lump or tumour found on a scan
- Known chronic liver disease with new symptoms — keep up with surveillance
- Upper-abdominal mass, weight loss or jaundice
Liver Cancer: common questions
Can liver cancer be cured with surgery?
For suitable patients, yes. When the tumour can be removed and enough healthy liver remains, surgical resection offers the best chance of cure. This applies both to primary liver cancer and, importantly, to cancer that has spread to the liver from the bowel. Careful assessment determines who is suitable.
How much of the liver can be removed safely?
The liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate, so a large portion can be removed safely provided enough healthy liver is left behind, which then grows back over the following weeks. Careful pre-operative assessment of the liver ensures this is the case before surgery.
Concerned about liver cancer?
Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma offers clear assessment and expert treatment. Book a consultation for personalised advice.