Symptoms & Diagnosis
Liver cancer can feel like or lead to:
- Abdominal pain, especially on the right side
- Abdominal swelling
- Fatigue and weakness
- Jaundice (yellow cast to your skin and eyes)
- Loss of appetite or feeling full even after small meals
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
You know your body well, and if you think you are feeling any of these symptoms of liver cancer, reach out to your doctor so we can learn more about what might be causing them.
Your care team will run different tests to check for liver cancer. We use imaging exams, such as CT scans, ultrasounds and MRIs, and, if needed, endoscopic procedures to look at your liver for signs of cancer. We also use blood tests to check your liver function. If these exams are abnormal, we take a tissue sample (biopsy) from your tumor to confirm a diagnosis.
If these tests find cancer, we refer you for a cancer consultation with an oncologist who specializes in treating liver cancer. This expert reviews your test results and medical history to learn more about your diagnosis and form a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
We know learning you have liver cancer can feel scary. That’s why we are committed to seeing you for a cancer consultation as quickly as possible — often within 48 hours — after your diagnosis so we can discuss treatment options, order additional tests and address any questions without delay.
Treatments
Your liver cancer is unique — which is why you deserve a personalized care plan tailored to your needs and the stage, location and type of your liver cancer. Each week, the Cancer Care team convenes a tumor board that brings together experts from across disciplines to collaborate on customized care plans for you. This collaboration has one common goal — to make sure you get the best possible care. Our multidisciplinary team of specialists, including surgical, medical and radiation oncologists who collaborate with gastroenterologists, interventional gastroenterologists, hepatologists, radiologists and pathologists, is here to care for you through every part of your treatment.
Surgery
Radiation
In addition to surgery or as a standalone liver cancer treatment, your cancer care team may recommend radiation therapy to eliminate your liver cancer. Radiation oncologists at our Radiation Treatment Center have treated thousands of patients, and we use state-of-the-art radiation treatments, including stereotactic radiosurgery, adaptive radiation therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy to treat liver cancer with speed and precision.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be used alongside other treatments to fight liver cancer. We work with you to determine if chemotherapy is a good option for your liver cancer and collaborate on the right combination of anticancer drugs, anti-nausea medicine and pain medication for your needs. El Camino Health is also at the forefront of community hospitals using targeted therapy, a precise approach that finds a unique combination of drugs to combat your liver cancer. We analyze your tumor to learn about its protein and chemical makeup, then use the latest research to find which drugs will have the greatest impact fighting it.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, also known as biologic therapy, is a treatment that empowers your immune system to fight cancer by helping your body find and attack liver cancer cells. Our experts are skilled in using checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy to fight cancer.
Clinical Trials
We are always looking for the next opportunity to improve detection, ease treatment and find better cures for your liver cancer. That’s why we collaborate with other medical centers and the National Cancer Institute on liver cancer clinical trials including innovative radiation therapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
If you’re interested in participating in this leading-edge research, talk to your care team to find a study that’s right for you.
Cancer Awards & Accreditations
Our superior Cancer Care has earned us a three-year accreditation as a comprehensive community cancer program from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Accreditation ensures that the care you receive right here in your community is high-quality and uses evidence-based, national treatment guidelines.
We’re also an ACS Surgical Quality Partner and committed to the highest surgery standards.
Patients rate us highly, too. Based on PressGaney patient satisfaction surveys, our “likeliness to recommend” score is over 90%, and we’ve won the top patient experience award multiple years in a row.
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Cancer Patient Stories
You are our inspiration. Hear how El Camino Health Cancer Care has helped other patients beat cancer — and how we can support you at every step of the way.
