Liver Cancer
The liver is the football-sized organ in the upper right area of the belly. It is one of the most important organs in the body. The liver is divided into sections, called lobes, and acts as a filter for blood. It takes harmful substances out of the blood that are later passed out of the body as waste.
With fewer than 200,000 cases per year in the United States, liver cancer is a rare medical condition that can be treated if caught early.
Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE) for Liver Cancer
Advanced Liver Cancer Treatment Using Targeted Radiation Therapy
Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE), also known as Y-90 radioembolization, is a minimally invasive treatment for certain liver cancers and liver tumors. This advanced procedure delivers radiation directly to tumors while limiting exposure to healthy liver tissue.
As a result, patients may experience effective tumor control with fewer side effects than traditional therapies.
What Is Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE)?
TARE is a catheter-based procedure performed by an interventional radiologist. During treatment, tiny radioactive beads called microspheres are delivered directly into the arteries that supply blood to liver tumors.
Once in place, the microspheres release radiation inside the tumor. Consequently, the treatment targets cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.
TARE is commonly used for:
- Liver cancer
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- Metastatic liver tumors
- Unresectable liver cancer
- Liver-dominant metastatic disease
Contact AVC to see if TARE may be right to treat your Liver Cancer.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably within the liver. Primary liver cancer begins in the liver itself, while secondary liver cancer spreads from another part of the body. There are two types of liver cancer. One is called primary liver cancer where the cancer begins in the cells of the liver, the football-sized organ in the upper right area of the belly. The second is called metastatic liver cancer which occurs when an existing cancer has spread to the liver from another part of the body.
What Are The Risk Factors?
A risk factor does not mean that you will develop a disease, but it does increase your chances of getting a disease. For liver cancer, risk factors include:
- Having other liver diseases, including hepatitis B or C or cirrhosis
- Having a family history of liver diseases that can cause cirrhosis
- Having diabetes
- Obesity
- Men are more likely to get liver cancer than women
- Drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time
Symptoms of Liver Cancer
- Abdominal pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea/ Vomiting
- Abdominal swelling
- Jaundice – yellowing of skin and eyes
- Feeling full quickly
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating
However, some patients experience few symptoms during the early stages of the disease.
How is Liver Cancer Diagnosed?
Your doctor may think about liver cancer if they find lumps or other symptoms during your physical exam. The doctor might order other tests, like:
- Blood tests: A serum marker test measures the amounts of certain substances linked to cancer. For liver cancer, cirrhosis, and hepatitis, the substance alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) may show up in higher levels. AFP in high levels is considered a tumor marker. Liver enzyme tests that show high levels of liver enzymes may also point to liver disease.
- Ultrasound (sonography): This test provides pictures of your soft tissue structures.
- Computed Tomography (CT Scan): This special type of X-ray takes detailed images of organs.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This test produces very clear images of the human body using a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer.
- Angiogram: During this test, a dye is injected into an artery to show liver tissue and any tumors.
- Laparoscopy: The doctor uses a thin tube with a light (laparoscope) to observe the liver and other organs inside the stomach area.
- Biopsy: The removal of tissue for study under a microscope. It may be done using a laparoscope. A biopsy is the most reliable way to determine cancer.
Treatment for Liver Cancer
Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE)
An effective treatment for liver cancer is Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE). This minimally invasive procedure combines embolization and radiation therapy to treat liver cancer to prevent the blood going to the cancerous organ, in this case the liver. This blockage of the blood flow to the cancerous area causes the diseased cells to die. TARE delivers targeted radiation directly to liver tumors. Therefore, it can slow tumor growth, reduce tumor size, and improve disease control while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of primary liver cancer. It often develops in patients with chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or hepatitis.
Symptoms of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Upper abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Enlarged liver
- Abdominal swelling
- Jaundice
Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE)
TARE is frequently used when surgery is not possible or when additional local tumor control is needed. By targeting the tumor directly, TARE can help preserve liver function while treating cancer.
Metastatic Liver Tumors
Metastatic liver tumors occur when cancer spreads to the liver from another organ. Common sources include colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors.
Symptoms of Metastatic Liver Tumors
- Abdominal discomfort
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Reduced appetite
- Liver enlargement
Treatment for Metastatic Liver Tumors
Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE)
TARE can target liver tumors that originated elsewhere in the body. As a result, it may help reduce tumor burden and improve quality of life.
Unresectable Liver Cancer
Some liver tumors cannot be safely removed through surgery due to their size, location, number, or underlying liver disease.
Symptoms of Unresectable Liver Cancer
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Jaundice
- Abdominal swelling
Treatment for Unresectable Liver Cancer
Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE)
TARE offers a treatment option for patients who are not candidates for surgery. Furthermore, it may help control tumor growth and extend treatment opportunities.
Liver-Dominant Metastatic Disease
Liver-dominant metastatic disease occurs when cancer has spread beyond its original location but is primarily affecting the liver.
Symptoms of Liver-Dominant Metastatic Disease
- Fatigue
- Abdominal discomfort
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Reduced appetite
- Enlarged liver
Treatment for Liver-Dominant Metastatic Disease
Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE)
TARE allows physicians to focus treatment directly within the liver. Consequently, it can help manage tumors while reducing the impact on the rest of the body.
If you experience any of the following, contact us to discuss treatment options.
Benefits of TARE
Patients may benefit from several advantages, including:
- Minimally invasive treatment
- Targeted radiation delivery
- Outpatient or short hospital stay
- Preservation of healthy liver tissue
- Reduced systemic side effects
- Ability to treat tumors not suitable for surgery
- Potential combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy
- Little to no blood loss
- Low rates of complications
- Covered by most insurance companies
Are you a TARE candidate?
If any of the following describe you, you may be a candidate for Transarterial
Radioembolization
- You do not want surgery
- Your particular cancer can’t be helped with surgery
- You seek supplemental and/or alternative therapies to traditional chemotherapy
Other treatments may include removal of part of the liver, transplant, traditional
chemotherapy, and in some cases radiation.
As doctors, we owe it to YOU, to give you two things:
- All of your treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical.
- Our professional opinion about each of these options for YOU.
What to Expect During Treatment
The procedure begins with a small catheter inserted through an artery, usually in the wrist or groin. Using advanced imaging guidance, the catheter is directed to the arteries feeding the tumor.
Next, radioactive microspheres are delivered directly into the tumor’s blood supply. Most patients return home the same day or shortly after treatment.
Why Choose Interventional Oncology?
Interventional oncology combines advanced imaging with minimally invasive techniques to treat cancer with precision. Rather than affecting the entire body, these treatments focus directly on the tumor.
As a result, patients often experience shorter recovery times and fewer side effects than traditional surgical procedures.
Schedule a Consultation
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic liver tumors, or liver-dominant metastatic disease, Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE) may be an effective treatment option. Our interventional oncology team provides personalized care using advanced image-guided therapies designed to target tumors and improve outcomes.
FAQS
Is cancer of the liver treatable?
Liver cancer is often treatable, but it can be difficult to treat. The treatment you have will depend on: if the cancer started in the liver (primary) or spread from somewhere else (secondary), but treatments for primary and secondary liver cancer are similar.
How fast do liver tumors grow?
The median TVDT was 85.7 days, with a range of 11 to 851.2 days. Multiple linear regression revealed that the initial tumor diameter (a tumor factor) and the etiology of chronic liver disease (a host factor) were significantly associated with the TVDT.
What happens to your body when your liver shuts down?
Liver failure occurs when your liver isn’t working well enough to perform its functions (for example, manufacturing bile and ridding the body of harmful substances). Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, and blood in the stool. Treatments include avoiding alcohol and avoiding certain foods.
How long can you live with a tumor on your liver?
For people with early-stage liver cancers who have a liver transplant, the 5-year survival rate is in the range of 60% to 70%.
Can you live without a liver?
You can’t live without a working liver. If your liver stops working properly, you may need a transplant. A liver transplant may be recommended if you have end-stage liver disease (chronic liver failure). This is a serious, life-threatening liver disease.
Is liver cancer curable if caught early?
If your cancer is early stage and the rest of your liver is healthy, surgery (partial hepatectomy) may cure you. Only a small number of people with liver cancer are in this category. Important factors that may influence the outcome are the size of the tumor(s) and if nearby blood vessels are affected.
What Do You Need to Know About Transarterial Radioembolization and Important Treatment Options?
A patient-friendly guide to transarterial radioembolization, including symptoms, evaluation, treatment options, and questions to ask about tumor ablation, liver tumor embolization, Y90 treatment, TARE, and kidney tumor ablation.
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A patient-friendly guide to liver tumor embolization, including symptoms, evaluation, treatment options, and questions to ask about tumor ablation, liver tumor embolization, Y90 treatment, TARE, and kidney tumor ablation.
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A patient-friendly guide to liver cancer treatment, including symptoms, evaluation, treatment options, and questions to ask about tumor ablation, liver tumor embolization, Y90 treatment, TARE, and kidney tumor ablation.