Can late-stage liver cancer be treated?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on May 01, 2025
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In the late stage of liver cancer, treatment depends on the specific circumstances. If there is significant ascites or severe liver function damage, treatment may primarily involve optimal supportive care. If the patient's liver function is relatively good, such as in hepatocellular carcinoma, targeted therapy may be an option. If the patient's overall condition allows, other treatment methods such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy may be considered. Furthermore, if the pathology is cholangiocarcinoma with jaundice as the main symptom, a stent can be placed externally in the biliary tract to drain bile and alleviate jaundice symptoms. If there is no portal vein thrombosis, no significant ascites, and multiple liver metastases are present, chemotherapy embolization of hepatic veins and various local ablation treatments can also be considered. Thus, the specific approach should take into account multiple factors such as the patient's constitution, overall condition, and the severity of liver function impairment.

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Is primary liver cancer contagious?

Primary liver cancer refers to malignant tumors that occur in the liver and are not metastasized from other parts of the body. Such liver cancer itself is not contagious. However, if liver cancer patients have other infectious diseases, transmission may be possible. Most primary liver cancers are related to liver cirrhosis following hepatitis, with hepatitis B being the most common. If accompanied by hepatitis B, it can be contagious, but it usually doesn't spread through regular daily contact. The main transmission routes for hepatitis B are through blood, mother-to-child transmission, and sexual transmission. This means that as long as the patient's blood does not injure someone else, contagion is generally unlikely, so there is no need for excessive worry.

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Will early-stage liver cancer cause weight loss?

For patients with early-stage liver cancer, symptoms of wasting do not occur at the onset. This is because wasting in liver cancer patients is due to insufficient albumin synthesis as the tumor causes a substantial consumption of protein, coupled with a decrease in appetite leading to inadequate intake of nutrients such as albumin, which ultimately results in wasting. This is a common clinical manifestation in patients with advanced liver cancer. However, for patients with early-stage liver cancer, the impairment of liver function is relatively minor; therefore, their synthesis of albumin is normal. Moreover, early-stage patients exhibit almost no clinical symptoms and their appetite remains normal, with no decrease in food intake. Thus, their intake of nutrients is also maintained at normal levels. Additionally, as the tumor is smaller in the early stages, the consumption of the body's nutrients is less. Considering these three factors, the overall protein consumption remains normal and not excessive, thus preventing the patients from experiencing wasting.

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Can hepatitis B turn into liver cancer?

Hepatitis B can gradually develop into cirrhosis or liver cancer. Therefore, if a hepatitis B virus infection is detected, it needs attention. If the hepatitis B surface antigen is positive in the HBV "two-and-a-half" test, it indicates a hepatitis B virus infection. Once infected with the hepatitis B virus, it is necessary to regularly check liver function and hepatitis B virus DNA, as well as have abdominal ultrasounds. If an increase in transaminases is found, it indicates the transformation into chronic hepatitis B, necessitating liver-protecting and enzyme-lowering treatments. If the hepatitis B virus DNA exceeds a certain value, antiviral treatment is also needed. After being infected with the hepatitis B virus, it is crucial to rest and avoid excessive fatigue and staying up late.

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How to effectively treat advanced liver cancer?

In the late stages of liver cancer, due to the spread of lesions, it is very easy to cause the failure of multiple organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys, ultimately endangering the patient's life. Therefore, effective treatment methods must be adopted to delay the progression of the disease as much as possible. Currently, effective treatment methods include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine, and some physical therapies. Commonly used clinical treatments include radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation. Radiotherapy is also a local treatment method, while targeted therapy and chemotherapy immunotherapy are systemic comprehensive treatments. Currently, the effects of targeted therapy for liver cancer are satisfactory, but the effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy are poor. Most patients need these treatments combined to exert their effective anti-tumor treatment functions.

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How to protect the liver in the late stages of liver cancer

If liver cancer has reached an advanced stage, this indicates that the patient's condition is very serious, and there is no possibility of cure. It is recommended that the patient take some Chinese herbal medicines for liver protection and maintenance. However, the patient must regulate their condition and control the development of the disease through medication under the guidance of a doctor, in order to prolong their life. However, the specific treatment plan should be determined based on the specific condition of each patient, following the guidance of the doctor for treatment.