Why Choose Us for Liver Cancer Treatment
The Huntsman Cancer Institute Liver Cancer Care Team offers unique multimodal and multidisciplinary treatments in collaboration with a nationally recognized liver transplant program.
We are at the forefront of immunotherapy research and treatment for liver cancer, and a leader in downstaging tumors for minimally invasive surgery so patients can recover from surgeries much more quickly.
Specialized Treatments
There are two types of primary liver cancer: hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer, and is more likely to develop in men than in women. The bile duct is part of a network of tubes that connect the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and small intestine. Bile duct cancer is rare in comparison to hepatocellular carcinoma.
Our expertise covers all areas of liver cancer care:
- Immunotherapy
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Robotic surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Liver transplant
- Catheter-based liver-directed therapy
- Percutaneous liver ablation
About Liver Transplant
Our multidisciplinary specialists use a team approach for liver transplant. Together, we review each individual patient鈥檚 case, coordinate treatment, and plan follow-up care. Our teams include the following:
- Liver transplant surgeon
- Medical hepatologist
- Medical oncologist
- Radiation specialists
- Diagnostic providers, such as pathologists and radiologists
- Nurses, physician assistants, social workers, and physical and occupational therapists
Learn more about our Liver Transplant Oncology Program.
Our Expertise
As a leading center for liver cancer care and research, we provide specialized care for liver cancer patients, and in 2019 performed the first robotic surgery for primary liver cancer in our region. Our research initiatives have helped advance the knowledge of tumor formation and investigated potential treatment such as the use of the antidepressant amitriptyline.
Patient Care Philosophy
We believe no one should face cancer alone. Our dedicated and world-renowned doctors, nurses, and medical staff are at the forefront of patient-centered care. We treat the whole person, not just their cancer.
Each day, our medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists work together across disciplines to create and coordinate treatment plans for every patient. We understand cancer is a complex 小蝌蚪APP. That is why we use a team approach that includes social workers and support groups, as well as wellness and integrative health services such as acupuncture, massage, creative arts, and more.
Find a Liver Cancer Doctor
Liver Cancer Research
At Huntsman Cancer Institute, research is critical to our mission of better understanding, treating, and preventing cancer. We have that focus on laboratory, clinical, and population-based studies. We also have specialty that serve as collaborative hubs where doctors and scientists share findings and work together to accelerate progress.
Our scientists study the biology of cancer, explore the promise of immunotherapy, and find new ways to treat people using personalized medicine. We have made significant discoveries about genes linked to cancer risk, and our experts train the next generation of cancer researchers to make a difference in cancer care.
In addition, clinical trials test new drugs, drug combinations, procedures, and processes. These are key to improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, and care. Patients on clinical trials may receive access to cutting-edge therapies not yet widely available, with studies being closely monitored so patient wellbeing is always the top priority. Our goal is to find new cancer treatments and improve the quality of life for people with cancer.
Clinical Trials
Make an Appointment with a Liver Cancer Specialist
To make an appointment with a liver cancer specialist, fill out our appointment form or call 801-587-7000. Our team will determine if your insurance covers treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute or if you need a referral from a primary care doctor.
External providers can refer a patient using the online referral form or by calling 801-587-7000 to speak to a patient registration specialist.
Liver Cancer Basics
These are signs of advanced liver 小蝌蚪APP and liver cancer:
- A swollen abdomen
- Pain near the right shoulder blade or in the back
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, also called jaundice
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite or feelings of fullness after eating a small meal
- Weight loss for no known reason
- Pale, chalky bowel movements and dark urine
- Fever
Many other health problems can also cause these signs. If you have any of these signs, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Learn more about from the National Cancer Institute.
Anything that increases your chance of getting a 小蝌蚪APP is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean you are sure to get cancer. It means your chances are higher than the average person鈥檚.
These are risk factors for liver cancer:
- Infection with hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C
- Cirrhosis of the liver caused by any of these things:
- Hepatitis B/C infections
- Alcohol misuse
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
- Alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency
- Metabolic syndrome, a set of conditions that happen together, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, extra fat around the abdomen, high triglycerides, and low levels of high-density lipoproteins in the blood
- Hemochromatosis, a condition where the body stores more iron than it needs in vital organs
Learn more about ways to prevent cancer and about family history and genetic counseling.
Doctors use these tests to diagnose liver cancer:
Physical exam and history
A health care provider examines your body for signs of 小蝌蚪APP. Your personal health habits, past illnesses and symptoms help guide the exam.
Laboratory tests
Through testing body tissues, blood, urine, or other substances in the body, your health care team can check to see how the liver and other organs are functioning. They can also look for substances that cells produce when cancer is present.
Ultrasound
This procedure uses high-energy sound waves to create a picture of the internal organs.
Imaging tests
Using dyes, x-rays, magnets, radio waves and/or computer technology, your health care provider can create detailed images of internal organs.
Biopsy
The health care provider removes cell or tissue samples so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.
Stages of cancer show whether cancer has spread within or around the liver or to other parts of the body. Cancer spreads in the body in three ways: through tissue, the lymph system, or the blood.
These are the stages used for liver cancer:
- Stage 1: Early
- Stage 2: Intermediate
- Stage 3: Locally advanced
- Stage 4: Widely metastatic
When cancer spreads from where it started to another part of the body, it is called metastasis. These metastatic cancer cells are the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if liver cancer spreads to the bone, the cancer cells in the bone are actually liver cancer cells. The 小蝌蚪APP is metastatic liver cancer, not bone cancer.
Learn more about the stages of from the National Cancer Institute.
