Treatment for: Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors
Procedures offered: Thermal ablation, Cryoablation, Radiofrequency ablation, Chemoembolization, Radioembolization (Y-90)
Cancer can spread to the liver from other areas of the body. This is common with cases of colorectal, breast, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, lung and kidney cancers, as well as melanoma skin cancers.
The surgical removal of liver tumors is recommended as the best chance for a cure. However, for many patients, liver tumors can be too large to remove surgically, too small and spread throughout the liver, or they may have grown into major blood vessels or other vital structures making surgery too risky. In fact, surgical removal of liver tumors may not be possible for over 66% of patients with primary liver cancers and more than 90% of patients with cancer that has metastasized to the liver (secondary liver cancer).
Some of the cancer treatment procedures offered at North Star Vascular & Interventional are designed to destroy the tumor itself; other procedures cut off the blood supply feeding the tumor. Thermal ablation, cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation use energy in the form of heat, extreme cold and radiofrequency energy respectively to destroy tumor tissue with minimal damage to the surrounding, healthy liver tissue. Chemoembolization effectively blocks the artery supplying the tumor while simultaneously releasing targeted chemotherapy directly into the tumor. Y-90 radioembolization involves the injection of tiny radioactive spheres that cut off the blood supply to the tumor and release targeted radiation directly into the tumor.
Cancer Treatment Preparation Instructions
- Please inform us of all medications that you are taking, including herbal supplements, and if you have any allergies, especially to local anesthetic, medications or to contrast (also known as “x-ray dye”).
- You may be advised to stop taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Tylenol, Advil) or a blood thinning medication for a period of time before your procedure.
- Please inform us about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.
- Women who are or may be pregnant should inform us immediately. Many imaging tests such as x-ray are not performed during pregnancy so as not to expose the fetus to radiation.
- Unless otherwise instructed, you may take your usual medications, especially blood pressure medications. These may be taken with some water in the morning before your procedure.
- You may be instructed to refrain from eating or drinking anything for several hours before your procedure.
- You may need to remain for a period of observation after your procedure.
- You will be given a gown to change into before your procedure.