Liver cancer is a type of gastrointestinal cancer. You might not have any signs of liver cancer until the disease advances. Symptoms include:
- Abdominal swelling
- Bleeding or bruising easily
- Fatigue
- Lump under the right side of the rib cage
- Pain in the abdomen (especially the upper right side)
- Vomiting or nausea
- Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Our cancer experts treat all types of liver cancer with tailored treatment plans. We treat:
Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma is bile duct cancer. This cancer begins in the series of tubes that connect the liver, gallbladder and small intestine to each other (bile ducts). These smaller ducts form two larger ducts that exit the liver, known as the right and left hepatic ducts.
There are two types of cholangiocarcinoma:
- Extrahepatic: Cancer that forms in the bile ducts outside the liver
- Intrahepatic: Cancer that begins in the bile ducts inside the liver
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. This cancer begins inside the two sections (lobes) of the liver.
These lobes include thousands of tiny sections, called lobules, and blood vessels that help filter your blood. Hepatocellular carcinoma can form in any of the cells (hepatocytes) found in the liver's lobes.
Liver cancer symptoms don't always appear until cancer has grown. If you're at higher risk of developing liver cancer due to cirrhosis or hepatitis infection, doctors might recommend regular screening tests. Learn more about cancer prevention and screening.
Diagnosing liver cancer begins with a physical examination. Depending on the symptoms you're experiencing, doctors might recommend that you have:
- Angiogram
- Biopsy
- Needle biopsy
- Laparoscopic biopsy
- Surgical biopsy
- Blood tests
- Imaging tests
Our experts design a personalized treatment plan based on your type of liver cancer and how advanced it is (its stage). The cancer's stage - including whether it has spread - is an important consideration in how we treat you.
Your doctor might recommend surgical removal of part of the liver (partial hepatectomy). Doctors may also recommend cancer treatments such as:
- Ablation
- Chemotherapy
- Cryotherapy
- Embolization
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
Our experts and partners also research new ways to treat cancer. Please read about our work at Sentara Health Research Center.