Curing Liver Cancer With a Liver Transplant

Cancer is one of the most fatal and life-threatening conditions ever faced by the human body. The uncontrolled growth of cells anywhere in the body can cause enormous and uncontrollable damage. In India, almost 7 lakh new cancer cases are being reported, and 56 thousand deaths occurring are cancer-related per year. Liver cancer, known as hepatocellular carcinoma, is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Almost 1.6% of cases are reported in India every year. Liver transplantation is the ultimate and end-stage cure for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The liver transplant success rate in a liver cancer patient is almost 60-70%. Cancer is divided into four types based on cells it affects. They are carcinomas, sarcomas, leukaemias, and lymphomas. This uncontrolled growth of cells, known as cancer, damage the surrounding healthy cells. This all disrupts the organized process of organs and systems in the body.

Liver cancer does the same. The liver is the largest organ situated in the upper right portion of your abdomen. Therefore, it should be taken very seriously if the liver is diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. A patient suffering from liver cancer experiences sudden body weight, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, swelling in the abdomen, and yellow discolouration of skin and eyes. Although a TNM staging usually determines liver cancer, nowadays, doctors use a more practical approach according to its treatment options. Here are some of the possible treatment options listed below.  

Liver cancer is categorized as

Potentially resectable: It can be done when your liver is at an early stage of liver cancer, and there are no underlying medical conditions. Potentially resectable means that the damaged portion of the liver is removed, and the liver is left as it is for its regeneration. However, this can be done in a very small portion of the patients because liver cancer is majorly detected in advanced stages. This depends on a number of factors, such as the size of the tumour or if nearby blood vessels are affected. If the tumour size is large and has potentially invaded the nearby blood vessel, this is not indicated in such patients. Then the patients are left with only a single treatment option: liver transplantation. 



Potentially transplantable: Liver transplantation is the best cure for hepatocellular carcinoma. Potentially transplantable liver can be done in those patients where cancer is detected at an early stage, and the rest of the liver is not healthy. This is also indicated in patients where the cancer is only in a part of the liver and can not be resected because a large vessel is present in its close approximation. The most common problem associated with liver transplantation is donor scarcity. The patients, while waiting for a perfect donor, can be put on ablation or embolization therapy to keep cancer under control.    



Liver transplant in liver cancer 


Liver transplantation is the best treatment option available for patients suffering from liver cancer. In Liver transplantation surgeries, the damaged portion of the liver is replaced with a healthy one, successfully restoring the functions of the liver. Usually, liver transplantation is indicated in patients when the tumour size is either less than 5cm or 2 to 3 tumours not bigger than 3cm. But the key point is that the tumour should not be in close approximation to a big vessel. It is also indicated in patients with a respectable tumour. When a liver trepanation is done, it not only reduces the cancer recurrence chances but can also increase the longevity of life up to 5 years. 



A liver donor can be anyone, a living or a deceased person. In a living donor liver transplantation, the donor candidate can be a close relative or a family member who is willing to donate his or her liver to the patient. Before getting transplantation, proper screening is a must. A patient, as well as the donor, has to undergo multiple tests. This all helps in assessing the possible risk and its prevention. It's important to discuss all the pros and cons related to the surgery with the doctor. With all the advancements in technologies and skills, it is possible for all liver ailments patients to live a healthy and happy life.


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