I have stage 2 liver cancer. How long do people with liver cancer usually live, doctor? (Nguyen Van Tam, 47 years old, Nam Dinh)
Reply:
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. According to the data of the Global Cancer Organization (Globocan) 2020, in Vietnam, liver cancer ranks first among cancers with the incidence and mortality rates of nearly 26.420 people and more than 25.270 people, respectively.
Depending on the stage of liver cancer, progression, age, condition of the patient, treatment method and response rate... the survival rate of liver cancer patients may vary. According to figures provided by the American Cancer Society based on SEER database information from 2012-2018, the 5-year survival rate for people with liver cancer at stages is 21%. Localized stage cancer (no indication that cancer has spread beyond the liver) was 36%. When the tumor metastasizes to distant organs, this rate drops to about 3%.
Liver cancer in particular and other types of cancer in general have a positive prognosis, and can even be cured if detected at an early stage. Currently, there are many methods of liver cancer treatment to help increase efficiency such as liver resection, liver transplantation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, radiofrequency ablation, immunotherapy, targeted ... In general, the survival rate higher for people who can even have surgery to remove the cancer. Studies have shown that patients with small, resectable tumors who do not have cirrhosis or other serious health problems are likely to do well. For people with early stage liver cancer who receive a liver transplant, the 5-year survival rate is about 60-70%.
TS.BS Vu Huu Khiem examines cancer patients. Image: Tam Anh Hospital
Signs of liver cancer in the early stages are often unclear, difficult to recognize, and easily confused with other diseases. As a result, many people have late-stage disease, with little chance of receiving effective treatment. In the late stages, malignant tumors that have grown, spread, or metastasize can only be treated for a long time, with palliative care to limit progression and reduce patient discomfort. Depending on the patient's condition, the doctor will discuss and recommend the appropriate method.
The patient has stage 2 liver cancer, however, does not clearly share the size of the tumor, what methods have been treated, and what is the current health status... Therefore, the doctor cannot give advice. specific issue. Stage 2, according to the BCLC liver cancer classification system, can be classified as stage A, B, so it can still be radically treated with surgical methods, liver transplantation, radiofrequency ablation or chemoradiation. . What the patient should do at this time is to stay healthy and follow the doctor's instructions. If there are abnormalities, find that the disease is progressing, you should share it with your doctor to receive appropriate advice. Mental comfort can also make your treatment easier. Cancer patients do not arbitrarily use unproven folk and oral methods but give up treatment. This can cause the tumor to grow faster and larger, increasing the risk of death.
Because most patients with liver cancer are detected at a late stage, doctors recommend that adults have regular checkups every 6 months or every year. People with liver diseases in the high-risk group need to closely monitor their condition, have regular health check-ups every 6 months, abdominal ultrasound, tests to detect liver cancer, etc. People at risk Should start screening for liver cancer at age 40-50.
Factors that increase the risk of liver cancer come from lifestyle such as drinking a lot of alcohol; smoke; eat a lot of processed foods; drink lots of soft drinks; stay up late; In particular, some liver diseases are at risk of progression, leading to cancer in this organ such as chronic viral hepatitis, cirrhosis... Vaccinate against hepatitis B, avoid contact with toxic chemicals that easily damage the liver is one of the ways to prevent liver cancer. For people who already have the disease, controlling the hepatitis virus combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle contributes to increasing resistance, increasing the ability to fight the disease.
Dr. BS Vu Huu Khiem
Head of Oncology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi
