The Liver cancer Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like liver cancer, you are never alone. Countless men and women have faced exactly the same diagnosis and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey through liver cancer with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge. 

TSC has scoured the Web to assemble links to the very best liver cancer resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges you're facing now.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this Liver Cancer Guide even more helpful to survivors like you.

JUST FOUND OUT 

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Liver Cancer

• National Cancer Institute: Liver Cancer  This division of the National Institutes of Health gives a wealth of resources, from treatment and prevention to research and clinical trials.
• American Cancer Society: All About Liver Cancer  Detailed guides for all aspects of the disease.
• MedlinePlus: Liver Cancer  A comprehensive resource with links to information about diagnosis, screening, genetics, the latest research news, and more.
  

The Big Picture

Primary liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver itself. However, when patients or physicians usually speak of liver cancer, they are often referring to cancer that originated in other organs (like breast, lung and stomach) and has spread to the liver. That type of liver cancer is called metastatic liver disease (cancer) or secondary liver cancer. Primary liver cancer is usually discovered early and often doesn't respond to current treatments — thus, the prognosis is often poor.

Web MD: What Is Liver Cancer?

Your Liver Cancer

Screening for early detection of primary liver cancer is not performed routinely, but it may be considered for people at high risk for the disease.

• Mayo Clinic: Liver Cancer - Tests and Diagnosis
• National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Liver Cancer

Once you are ready to have “the” conversation with your doctor, arm yourself with questions, no matter how small.

American Cancer Society: What Are Some Questions I Can Ask My Doctor?

Your World

A diagnosis of liver cancer is a frightening feeling. However, it is helpful to have an idea about what to expect, how to manage the symptoms of your treatment and where you can turn for help.

American Cancer Society: How Can I Learn More?

Cancer will change your life and those of your loved ones. But if you talk with your friends and family about your cancer and how it makes everyone feel, you'll draw closer together.

National Cancer Institute: Family Matters

Liver Cancer Myths

• There is no relationship between obesity and liver disease.
• Liver cancer is on the decline in the United States.
• Children do not get liver diseases.

American Liver Foundation: Debunking Liver Disease Myths

Since liver cancer can be secondary or caused from another cancer, here is some useful information about common cancer myths in general. 

Mayo Clinic: Cancer Treatment Myths

Types of Treatment

Treatments for primary liver cancer depend on the extent of the disease, as well as your age, overall health and personal preferences. Options include  There are several different types of treatment for liver cancer including surgery (removing the affected parts of the liver), tumor ablation, radiation therapy and liver transplant. 

• American Cancer Society: How Is Liver Cancer Treated?
• National Cancer Institute: Adult Primary Liver Cancer Treatment
• Mayo Clinic - Treatments and Drugs
  

New Therapies

Some new treatments are being tried for liver cancer surgery, radiation therapy and drugs. 

American Cancer Society: What's New in Liver Cancer Research?

Alternative Treatments

Options range from nutritional therapy to naturopathic medicine.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America: Complementary & Alternative Liver Cancer Treatment Options

Creating a Support Circle

• Set up your TSC Survivor Profile
• Join support groups of other survivors or set up your own
• Interact and provide updates on your profile or our forums

Insurance & Work Matters

Finding a way to pay for your medical treatment is very important, as is dealing with legal, financial and insurance matters while you're undergoing treatment.

Insurance

• National Cancer Institute: Financial Assistance and Other Resources for People With Cancer
• Cancer.net: Financial Resources

Work Matters

How to tell your boss you have cancer can be very difficult, but do it without fear becaus have legal rights for keeping your job. 

• Cancer and Careers: Who to Tell When You Have Cancer
• National Cancer Institute: Living Each Day - Working

Resources to Find Doctors

It is important to take steps to choose the best doctor for you. Two medical experts you should have involved in your care are a hepatologist and an oncologist. 

• American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
• Cancer.net: Find an Oncologist Database

The Emotional Roller Coaster

The challenging journey you are embarking on is filled with emotional turmoil.  Make sure to reach out to friends, family for support and to other lung-cancer survivors for empathy and understanding. It is important to remember that you are not alone. Some arenas for getting advice and answers to your questions are online forums and support organizations in your community.

• The Cancer Forums: Liver Cancer Forum
• eHealthForum: Liver Cancer Forum
• American Liver Foundation: Our Local Chapters

Books Survivors Recommend

• 100 Q&A About Liver Cancer by Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, M.D.
• The Liver Book: A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery by Sanjiv Chopra, M.D.
  
• Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide To Hepatitis and Liver Disease by Melissa Palmer, M.D.
  

Communicating with Your Health Care providers

• Bring a friend or family member with you to your appointments, not only to provide support but to lend an extra ear to understand everything your healthcare provider has to say, and think of questions you may have forgotten to ask.
• Don't be afraid to ask any questions, even if you may be scared of the answer. Ignorance won't help you fight this disease.
• Write down any questions you may have ahead of time, then write down the answers to those questions as your healthcare provider walks you through them. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification on anything.

Dealing with Liver Cancer: Information for Co-Survivors    

Being a caregiver can be emotionally and physically taxing, but support and resources are available to you, too.  

On Top of Cancer: Liver Cancer Caregiver Guide

How you can help

• Assist your friend or family member with his day-to-day duties or chores, but be sure to find a good balance so as not to throw off his pattern of living. That could increase his stress if he feels he is becoming a burden.
• Preserve your friend or family member's daily activities. It's normal to feel protective but excluding her from activities or decisions you don't see her as fit enough to do or make could contribute to her feelings of helplessness.
• Involve your friend or family member with others. Don't focus exclusively on his disease and treatment plan when interacting with him. Talk to him about your own life, or make plans to visit friends and loved ones. A survivor involved with others has a better chance of avoiding feelings of abandonment.

What to say    

• "I will support your decision about whichever treatment option you choose and which doctors and hospitals you go to."
• "I'm here to help."
• "If you want to talk about this, I want to listen."

What not to say

• "That's what happens when you drink too much."
• "You're definitely going to need a transplant."
• "I think I heard you can live if you have your liver removed."

Things you can do for a survivor every day

Offering day-to-day support is a great gift to give a family member with liver cancer or a friend/neighbor that has been stricken with this disease. If the survivor isn't a family member, help out the patient's family when they are away at hospitals or hotels by picking up the mail or newspaper, making meals, going grocery shopping, etc. If the survivor is a family member, help out with chores or other duties he may have fallen behind on.

How to build a support network

• Set up your TSC Co-Survivor Profile
• Create a support group for your friend or family member.
• Interact and provide updates

Now that your treatment has ended, it is very important to have regular checkups with your doctor. Making some lifestyle adjustments can help, too. 

• American Cancer Society: Lung Cancer - What Happens After Treatment?
• Web MD: Care After Cancer Treatment

Giving Back

Giving back is also a great way to feel great about your recovery. Donate your time and/or financial support to organizations dedicated to helping people facing the same situation you did.

• American Liver Foundation
• American Cancer Society: In My Community

Sadly, the overall 5-year survival rate from liver cancer is less than 10 percent. If your cancer cannot be cured, there are many things you can do to enjoy your quality of  life on a daily basis.  One option is finding “palliative care,” assistance with combating the pain, nausea and emotional upset. 

• GetPalliativeCare
• National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization

Never feel alone -- you are not. Writing down your thoughts can help you deal with your emotions.

The Grief Blog: Terminal Illness