Elimination by using heat to kill liver cancer cells and delivering chemotherapy through the hepatic artery into the liver (TACE)
Liver cancer is one of the common cancers, with risk factors that are very close to us, including alcohol consumption, hepatitis B and C virus infections, contaminated food with aflatoxins found in peanuts and dried chili, and cirrhosis caused by various factors such as alcohol or hepatitis viruses. Liver cancer has 2 types: primary liver cancer originating from liver cells and liver cancer that has spread from other organs. This article will focus only on the treatment of primary liver cancer originating from liver cells.
Factors Affecting the Choice of Treatment Method
For the treatment of liver cancer, doctors will consider the treatment approach based on the severity, stage of the disease, size and number of tumors, along with the overall physical condition of the patient. Treatment options include surgery, heat ablation of liver cancer cells, chemotherapy delivered through the hepatic artery (TACE), and palliative treatment with medication.
Today, we will understand and get to know the treatment methods of liver cancer using heat to kill liver cancer cells without surgery, and liver cancer treatment with chemotherapy through the hepatic artery (Trans Arterial Chemo Embolization: TACE) together.
Benefits of Using Heat to Kill Liver Cancer Cells
Heat ablation treatment is performed in cases of early-stage liver cancer with small tumors, usually fewer than 3 nodules. The doctor inserts a small needle through the abdomen into the liver, guiding the needle tip to the tumor location using ultrasound. Then, radiofrequency waves (Radio Frequency Ablation: RF) or microwave waves (Microwave Ablation) are released to generate heat at the needle tip to destroy the targeted cancer cells, ensuring no cancer cells remain.
And the question everyone wants to know is: what are the benefits of this method? The answer is that this treatment minimally affects the healthy liver tissue, with treatment outcomes comparable to surgery. Painkillers are administered intravenously during the heat ablation process. After treatment, recovery is quick, requiring only 1-2 days of rest before the patient can go home.
Liver Cancer Treatment with Chemotherapy via Hepatic Artery (TACE)
Normally, liver cells are supplied by veins from the digestive system, but liver tumors differ because they recruit arteries to supply blood to the tumor for growth. This led to the concept of TACE treatment, which delivers chemotherapy directly to the liver tumor instead of conventional chemotherapy.
TACE treatment is performed in a cardiac catheterization lab (Cath Lab). Local anesthesia is injected into the groin before inserting a small catheter through the groin artery. The catheter tip is positioned precisely in the artery supplying the liver cancer cells. Then chemotherapy is administered, and the artery is embolized with medical materials to keep the chemotherapy in the tumor longer and destroy as many cancer cells as possible, with minimal side effects on the surrounding healthy liver cells.
Indications for Treatment with TACE
- Patients with intermediate-stage liver cancer and overall physical condition suitable for the procedure
- The tumor has not invaded the portal vein supplying the liver
- The tumor size is not excessively large
Self-Care Before and After Treatment
- Before treatment, fasting from food and water for 6 hours is required, and patients will undergo detailed blood tests and X-rays
- After treatment, the catheter is removed, and pressure is applied to the groin to stop bleeding. Patients must lie flat and keep the groin bent for the first 6-8 hours after treatment
- Patients must rest and be monitored for at least 1 day after treatment
- Follow-up evaluation should be done within 4 weeks
- In cases of large or multiple tumors, more than one treatment session may be necessary. Patients should strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations
From the above information, it is clear that there are many approaches to cancer treatment. You just need to prioritize studying and understanding the information thoroughly. Equally important as cancer treatment is the “morale” that must be full to be ready to fight cancer cells—not for anyone else, but for yourself… Keep fighting!
