Liver Tumors Risks, Signs And Hopeful Advances In Treatments

You probably don't think much about your liver - until a doctor mentions something unexpected, like a tumor. "Tumor" is a scary word, and it's natural for your mind to jump to the worst-case scenario. But here's the good news: not every liver tumor is cancerous. And even when cancer is part of the conversation, there's more hope today than ever.

Thanks to advances in treatment and a team of experts by your side, a liver tumor diagnosis doesn't mean you're out of options. Knowing what to watch for - and where to turn - can give you the confidence to face whatever comes next.

Joshua Kays, MD, is a leader in complex cancer care and surgical innovation. He is a surgical oncologist with Franciscan Physician Network Indy Southside Surgical in Indianapolis. Dr. Kays specializes in liver care, including liver tumor removal and bile duct surgery. He is one of only about 600 surgeons in North America with advanced certification in complex surgical oncology.

Dr. Kays explains that when it comes to liver tumors, knowing the type, risks and treatment options is key. And there's often more hope than patients expect.

Key Takeaways: Liver Tumors

• Liver tumors may or may not be cancerous.
• Treatments can include surgery, ablation and medications. In some cases, benign tumors may be just monitored.

• Cirrhosis, heavy alcohol use, chronic hepatitis infections, colon cancer and fatty liver disease may be linked to liver tumors.

Understanding Liver Tumors

If you have a liver tumor, one of the first questions is whether it's noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). That matters - a lot.

"The difference between the two is that benign tumors have no chance of spreading anywhere else," Dr. Kays explained. "If we're confident it's noncancerous and has low or no risk of changing, we can just monitor it, especially if the patient has no symptoms."

The good news is that with today's advanced imaging, a CT scan or MRI often gives doctors a clear answer.

How Primary And Secondary Liver Cancers Are Different

When it comes to liver cancer, where the cancer starts makes a big difference. Liver cancers fall into two main categories: primary and secondary.

"There are two types. There's hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma," Dr. Kays said. Primary liver cancers start in the liver. While secondary liver tumors - also called metastases - spread from other organs.

"The most common liver tumor I see is a metastasis from colorectal cancer."

These secondary tumors develop when cancer from another part of the body, like the colon, breast or pancreas, spreads to the liver.

Who Is At Risk For Liver Tumors?

Certain health conditions can raise your risk for liver tumors.

Primary liver cancers often link to cirrhosis, a condition that scars the liver.

"90 percent of people who have hepatocellular carcinoma have underlying cirrhosis," Dr. Kays explained.

Common causes of cirrhosis include heavy alcohol use and chronic hepatitis infections. And a growing concern is fatty liver disease.

When it comes to secondary liver tumors, colorectal cancer is the biggest concern.

"That's why it's important, especially with colon cancer, to get your colonoscopy and get screened," Dr. Kays said. "This gives us the chance to find cancer before it travels to your liver."

What Is Fatty Liver Disease?

Fatty liver disease is becoming one of the country's biggest threats to the liver. And many people don't even know they have it.

"Fatty liver disease is when your liver gets full of fat. This leads to cirrhosis or scarring of the liver, which is irreversible," Dr. Kays said.

But fatty liver disease is preventable. If you stay active, eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight, you can help protect your liver.

Signs And Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

Liver tumors don't always cause symptoms that you notice right away. This is one reason to be aware of small changes.

"The most common symptoms I see are unintentional weight loss, vague stomach pain, tiredness or loss of appetite," Dr. Kays said. "But the really big one is jaundice." Jaundice is when the skin and eyes turn yellow due to a buildup of bilirubin, often caused by liver or bile duct problems.

If you notice unexplained changes like these, it's important to talk with your doctor.

Treatment Options: More Than Just Surgery

If you're diagnosed with a liver tumor, you have options and plenty of reasons to stay hopeful.

"The fortunate thing about the liver and liver tumors is there's a bunch of different treatment options," Dr. Kays said. "The cornerstone of treatment is still resection, where we surgically cut the tumor out. If that's not possible, we have all kinds of alternatives."

Some common treatments for liver tumors include:

• Ablation: A procedure that burns the tumor from the inside to destroy it
• Arterial therapies: Special treatments that deliver chemotherapy or radiation directly to the tumor through your blood vessels
• Systemic treatments: Medications like chemotherapy and immunotherapy that travel through the bloodstream to fight cancer anywhere in the body

"Our options are improving all the time," Dr. Kays added.

Prevention And Steps You Can Take

While you can't prevent all liver tumors, many risk factors are within your control.

"Don't smoke or drink alcohol, eat healthy and try to live an active lifestyle. Those are the biggest things you could do to prevent your risk of liver cancer," Dr. Kays advised.

And remember regular screenings. Colonoscopies and other preventive tests can catch cancers early - sometimes before they reach the liver.

The Power Of A Great Team At Franciscan Health

It can feel overwhelming to face cancer, but treatment from a comprehensive cancer center like Franciscan Health means you won't face cancer alone.

"Our dedicated cancer experts look out for our patients to ensure they have the best outcomes," Dr. Kays said.

A Reason To Stay Hopeful

Cancer care moves forward every day - and so do the possibilities for better outcomes.

"We make improvements all the time," Dr. Kays said. "It is very important to keep a positive attitude. You never know what's going to come out next that will change how we treat cancer or improve outcomes significantly."

Are you worried about your liver health or family history? If you're experiencing symptoms or have a family history of cancer, don't wait. Trust the team at Franciscan Health for expert care and advanced treatment options.