Question:
When is surgery a treatment option?

Answer:
If a tumor can be removed, surgery will be done. The figure below shows the extent of the typical surgeries used to remove liver tumors. Up to 75% of the liver can be removed since the liver does grow back if no cirrhosis or hepatitis is present (regeneration). The liver and peripheral nerves are the only tissues of the body capable of regeneration. In some patients, a combination of resection and radiofrequency ablation will be used. Following surgical removal of the tumor, some patients may have a hepatic artery infusion pump placed to treat the liver with chemotherapy in an attempt to prevent the return of the liver cancer.

After surgery, patients may be required to stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for one or two days, and remain in the hospital for 5 - 14 days. Patients who do not live in the Louisville area may need to stay locally for one or more weeks after discharge from the hospital. Patients usually need one to two months of recovery at home before they can return to their normal activities.

Chemotherapy may be given before or after surgery and is given intravenously. The schedule depends on the particular drug given. Patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy do not need to be admitted to the hospital for these treatments.