Chemotherapy Liver Cancer

Chemotherapy liver cancer is where one uses cytotoxics or anti-cancer drugs to kill off cancer cells in the liver. They work by interfering with the growth of cancer cells. As the drugs circulate in the blood, they kill off cancer cells wherever they are in the body. Chemotherapy is used to help treat cancer whenever surgery is not possible, or as part of a treatment process together with surgery, or with radiotherapy, or with both. The aim of this is to kill off residual cancer cells which may have been left behind, so that there is no recurrence.

Generally chemotherapy is given either in the form of oral medications or in a drip directly into the vein. Another type of chemotherapy delivers the drugs directly into the liver.

Chemotherapy is usually given in a series of treatments every few weeks. The few weeks in between treatments is to allow the body a chance to recover from whatever side effects may come on as a result of the chemotherapy.

The drugs most commonly given in chemotherapy liver cancer are:

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
5FU (5-fluorouracil)
Gemcitabine
Methotrexate
Cisplatin

chemotherapy liver, chemotherapy side effects, alternative treatments for cancer | Chemotherapy Liver Cancer