Depending upon the stage and your present condition, you may have to go to a team of doctors who specialize in liver cancer treatments. The doctors may include a surgical oncologist, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a gastroenterologist, and an interventional radiologist to make a multidisciplinary team.

It is difficult to overcome cancer, but without overthinking and wasting time, you must discuss the side effects of liver cancer treatments with the doctors, thus helping them to make the best decision for you.

Several points to consider include the following:

• The stage of cancer
• Whether the surgery can really help you get rid of all the cancer cells
• Whether you are suffering from any other health-related issue
• How long you are expected to survive, i.e. your expected life span
• If undergoing treatment will cure you or there are some other options too
• Any inner feelings about the horrifying side effects of the treatment
• The present working condition of your liver

Do not jump to a final decision, as it is important to understand and absorb the information you get from the doctors. You will clear all your doubts about the liver cancer treatments by consulting your doctors. It is better to take a second opinion to gain more confidence about the type of treatment.

1. Discussion with the doctors about the treatment
You are familiar with your doctor now, who wants to make you comfortable with the following inconveniences you will have to face:

• Surgery of the organ
• Chemotherapy or treatment to restrict the growth of cancer cells
• Radiotherapy
• The common cancer medicine that is given
• Direct heat waves to the tumor

2. The ongoing surgery
Now, let us discuss the two types of liver surgeries for primary liver cancer treatments.
An operation or resection of the liver conducted to remove a portion of the liver is possible when cancer cells are only in the liver and not in the rest of your body. This type of cancer is called fibrolamellar hepatocellular cancer, and surgery is possible for those who are not suffering from liver cirrhosis. In case you are suffering from liver cirrhosis, your entire organ is affected and is not healthy, so a liver transplantation is advised by the doctor. Getting a donor is difficult, so you have to undergo treatments to further stop the growth of cancer cells. Also, if the cirrhosis is severe, your body would be weak and will not be able to survive the liver transplantation.

3. No possibility for surgery
Surgery, under all the liver cancer treatments, is not possible if your tumor is too large, the position of the tumor is such that it can’t be removed, there are multiple tumors, or if your body is too weak to undergo a big operation. You can either opt for local treatments like chemoembolization, radiofrequency and ethanol injections or take medications such as sorafenib. In other words, your doctor will help you control the symptoms rather than controlling the cancer, which is another way to treat your ailment.

You need to consult a doctor immediately for the treatment; otherwise, it can worsen the situation for you. Another important thing you need besides clinical treatment is mental support from your peer groups and family to overcome this disease and its consequences.