Cancer Information: 
Hepatic (Liver) Cancers

There are two major types of liver cancer:
1) Primary Liver Cancer (cancers arising from the liver itself) and
2) Secondary Liver Cancer(cancers arising in other organs that have metastasized to the liver). Symptoms of liver cancer include abdominal pain, weight loss, and jaundice. Liver cancer may also be asympomatic and in these cases are first suggested by laboratory and radiological tests. The major risk factor for primary liver cancer is cirrhosis. The major risk factor for secondary liver cancer is a history of a prior malignancy (especially colorectal cancer).

These cancers were once thought to be untreatable. However, advances in medical sciences have resulted new curative options. The treatment of liver cancer is rapidly evolving; therefore, it is particularly important that patients with these cancers be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons and oncologists who have expertise in treating this condition.

The team at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center offers a comprehensive treatment program for patients with liver cancers. Patients have access to a full range of state-of-the-art treatment modalities, including liver resection, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, and minimally-invasive therapies.