LIVER CANCER - WHAT ARE ITS SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS

Cancers that start in the liver are called liver cancer (primary liver cancer). Though uncommon in the United States, liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. Liver cancer is difficult to treat since it is hard to detect early.

Symptoms

Liver cancer is sometimes called a silent disease because there are often no symptoms in its early stages. Symptoms usually appear once the cancer has advanced.

Common signs of liver cancer include:

• Pain in the upper abdomen on the right side, which you may also feel in your back and shoulder
• Swollen or bloated abdomen
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite and a feeling of fullness after small meals
• Weakness or feeling very tired
• Nausea and vomiting
• Jaundice, whose symptoms include yellow skin and eyes and dark urine
• Fever

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. These symptoms are not necessarily signs of liver cancer and may be the result of other liver diseases or health problems unrelated to the liver. Only a doctor can diagnose and treat the problem.

Cancer Treatment Options

Your treatment plan will be based on the type of liver cancer you have, the stage of the cancer, how well your liver works, your overall health, and the discussion between you and your healthcare professional.

There are 2 types of treatment used for liver cancer—curative treatment and noncurative treatment.

Curative treatment aims to cure the disease by removing the tumor(s).

Curative treatments include:

• Liver transplant
• Surgery
• Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI)
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Noncurative treatment is used for patients with unresectable disease (cancer that cannot be treated with surgery).

The goal of this type of treatment is to make symptoms better and slow the growth of your cancer.

Noncurative treatment includes:

• Locoregional therapy
• Radiotherapy
• Systemic treatment

NEXAVAR 200 mg is a noncurative systemic treatment only to be used in liver cancers that cannot be treated with surgery.

Nexavar Sorafenib 200 mg Tablets

Brand Name : Nexavar

Active Ingredients : Sorafenib Tosylate

Manufactured by: Bayer Schering Pharma AG

Strength: 200 mg

Form: Tablets

Packing: Pack of 60 Tablets

For patients with liver cancer, a treatment plan may include any or all of the treatments above. Speak with your healthcare professional about how Sorafenib 200 mg Tablets, an oral medication, might fit into your treatment plan if you have liver cancer that cannot be treated with surgery.