The liver is one of the most important organs in the body. These tests include: Liver function tests are blood tests that indicate how well the liver is functioning. Common symptoms of metastatic liver cancer include: Metastatic liver cancer treatment options. A liver metastasis is a cancerous tumor that has spread to the liver from a cancer that started in another place in the body. Survival rate for secondary liver cancer is less, and mortality rate is high. People often associate night sweats with cancer, but a number of other things can cause them. Also called sonography, an ultrasound transmits high-frequency sound waves through the body. It’s also called secondary liver cancer. Surgical removal is possible when there are a small number of tumors that affect only a small area of the liver. Staging assigns a number — 1 through 4) — to the cancer. AFP markers can also be used to monitor treatment effects of primary liver cancer. Metastatic liver cancer is an advanced stage of the disease that started in the liver but has spread to other parts of the body. There are six steps in the metastasis process. Various kinds of testing will be needed to confirm the diagnosis. The following symptoms indicate a more urgent and serious problem: You should see your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of liver metastasis. Blood or serum markers are substances in the blood that are linked to cancer. Generally, the choice of treatments will depend on: Systemic cancer therapies treat the whole body through the bloodstream. We also provide therapies that may help ease the symptoms often associated with liver cancer, such as pain, appetite loss and nausea. Discover those warning signs of cancer here. These drugs can kill cancer cells and leave healthy cells intact. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), we offer a number of treatment options for patients with metastatic liver cancer. When liver cancer metastasizes, it most commonly spreads to the lungs and bones. The earlier you detect…, In the U.S., hepatitis C (HCV) infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. There may be no symptoms in the early stages of liver metastasis. Metastatic Liver Cancer: How Long Can You Live With It and More, Cirrhosis and Hepatitis C: Their Connection, Prognosis, and More, making bile, which helps in digesting fat, making many types of proteins used throughout the body for fuel and cell regeneration, making enzymes that initiate and participate in numerous body metabolic functions, storing glycogen (sugar), which the body uses for energy, persistent vomiting, meaning vomiting more than twice a day for more than one day. Several options are currently used for treating cancer that has metastasized to the liver. Primary liver cancer originates in the liver and most commonly affects individuals who have risk factors such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA, Pain occurring near the right shoulder blade or in the upper abdomen, Abdominal swelling or bloating in the abdomen, Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). Radiation and chemotherapy are treatments for cancer. This helps your immune system’s ability to fight cancer. We also provide therapies designed to ease the symptoms often associated with liver cancer. The liver has a variety of functions, including detoxification, breaking down fats, synthesizing proteins and aiding in digestion. All rights reserved. Circulation: Cancer cells migrate through the lymphatic system and the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Targeted therapies have different side effects than some other cancer treatments. The five-year survival rate for a patient whose liver cancer has spread to surrounding tissue, organs and/or lymph nodes is estimated at 11 percent. The laparoscope is inserted through a small incision, and biopsies are taken for study under a microscope. Laparoscopy is the most reliable minimally invasive method of diagnosing cancer. These sound waves produce echoes. A computed tomography (CT) scan is a special kind of X-ray that takes visual images of soft-tissue organs in detail. Learn more about the causes and treatments. However, current treatments can help to improve life expectancy and relieve symptoms. Liver cancers can be of two types: primary or secondary. Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research, Gateway for Cancer Research is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. When primary liver cancer is present, there may be higher levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detected in the blood. The laparoscopy is a narrow tube with a light and a biopsy (tissue sample) tool. For example, if the liver cancer spreads to the bones, it may cause bone fractures. They can be used when the liver tumors are small in size and number. If your cancer has spread to the liver, it’s mostly likely stage IV. Liver cancer symptoms often do not appear in the early stages. Angiogenesis: Micrometastases stimulate the creation of new blood vessels, which supply the nutrients and oxygen needed for tumor growth. They then move through the capillary (small blood vessel) walls and invade nearby tissue. In later stages, cancer can cause the liver to swell or obstruct the normal flow of blood and bile. It may come from: RFA is commonly used to treat primary liver cancer and can be used to treat liver metastasis. Metastatic Liver Cancer: How Long Can You Live With It and More Medically reviewed by Yamini Ranchod, Ph.D., M.S. Last medically reviewed on September 17, 2018. The symptoms of metastatic liver cancer vary depending on where new tumors form. However, liver metastases are most commonly found in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer followed by neuroendocrine liver metastases. If you’ve had other diseases of the liver or a family history of liver cancer, you have a higher risk of developing liver cancer and you should have regular follow-up visits with a doctor. This therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Arrest and extravasation: Cancer cells stop moving when they reach a distant location. The relative success of treatment depends on the location of the primary cancer and how much of it has spread to the liver. Whether you’re navigating…. It uses radio waves, a large magnet, and a computer. The information on this page was reviewed and approved by Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA.