According to The Thai Society of clinical oncology has claimed that “liver cancer” is the top hit cause of cancer diseases. Due to Thailand is located in Southeast Asia which is a source of hepatitis B and C, which eventually becomes liver cancer. Accordingly, the disease usually does not show its symptoms at an early stage until it is found in a severe condition. Specialist in radiology and advanced diagnostic body imaging Phyathai 2 Hospital has described how to treat liver cancer by chemotherapy and transarterial chemoEmbolization as follows …
Treatment of liver cancer
There are several ways to treat the liver cancer which are based on the stage of the disease, the size of the tumor also the distribution of cancer. However, the treatments can be provided by surgery, liver transplant, the use of heat and cold or transarterial chemoEmbolization, etc.
Transarterial ChemoEmbolization
The liver is an organ that is different from the others. There are 2 systems of blood supplies which they are arteries and veins. While the cancer is growing, it is mainly supported by arteries. On the other hand the veins directly supply the liver. Accordingly, Transarterial ChemoEmbolization or TACE then becomes one of the treatments for liver cancer which is provided to patients by inserting a catheter into the artery or where the cancer is located. In order to inject the chemotherapy into the blood vessels where they support the cancer along with the arteries blockage. Causing malignant tumor lack of blood supply. Meaning this procedure can prevent 2 dangerous leading causes for patients at once.
Which groups of patients that TACE can be provided?
If the liver cancer that patient has can be treated by surgery. The doctor will consider providing the surgery first. But to have the surgery the patients must not have a condition of cirrhosis. Moreover, the rest of the liver function is still remain good, includes that the tumor size must not be too big. And there is no distribution to other organs as well as the part of the tumor does not cover the blood vessels of the liver. However, mostly, the liver disease is usually found or detected when the tumor grows bigger, and cause organs in pain. Accordingly, about 60% of patients who cannot receive surgery due to the size of tumors. The doctor then will consider other ways to help the patients. For instance, needle insertion for tumor or Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA). Which there is heat on the needle tip that can kill the tumor directly. In addition, in a case, if there are several tumors more than 3 of them, and each one is larger than 3 cm. As well as the liver is not destroyed more than 70% and there is no spreading to other organs such as lymph nodes, lungs and liver function. Then the TACE procedure will be provided to patients afterward.
Preparation before TACE
2. Receive a blood test to inspect the clotting including liver function.
3. Shave and clean the groin area before catheter insertion.
4. Urinary catheterization.
5. Inject anesthetic to the area of cauterization in order to provide chemotherapy.
What to do after TACE Treatment
After TACE, patients can return home on next day. There may be some pain. But they still can do a daily routine. And need a special care for the wounds caused by the catheterization. However, the doctor will appoint patients to follow up the condition periodically by CT scans in order to detect that the injected drug is able kill all malignancies or not. If there are still some of them left then the procedure will be repeated immediately. Or if they are completely removed the doctors will be watching for signs of a new tumor.
Side effects
There may be some side effects which are not severe, such as low fever, nausea, vomiting, higher white blood cells and pain around the area. Which these may take about 2-3 days to get better. As mentioned the symptoms are a result of vessel occlusion. Which is a normal reaction of the body when there is blood deficiency. However, there are no side effects from chemotherapy.
Specialist in radiology and advanced diagnostic body imaging Phyathai 2 Hospital has mentioned the advantages of doing TACE that because the patients who received this treatment are not able to undergo surgery, and the heat cannot be used for their cure. According to the reason TACE is an alternative to slow down the growth of the tumor. Which is better than letting them go with the disease without doing anything. However, this will provide patients a better quality of life, which can lead patients to live until 6 to 20 months. Besides, in the case where the doctor has experienced, his patient could live to 5 years without tumors recurrences. Moreover, it also hurt less and take a shorter time for recovery than a normal surgery. In conclusion, TACE is another way to treat liver cancer nowadays.
Article by Specialist in radiology and advanced diagnostic body imaging Phyathai 2 Hospital
Phyathai2 Hospital
