Radioimmunotherapy
Radioimmunotherapy is an experimental treatment for some types of liver cancer. A radioactive isotope is given through a vein and concentrates in the liver, where it irradiates the tumour internally.

No immediate side-effects are known. Bleeding into the skin, bruising, prolonged bleeding after an injury, tiredness and an increased likelihood of infections can occur four to six weeks after treatment.

Alcohol injection
This treatment uses pure sterile alcohol to destroy the cancer cells. It is suitable if you have only a few small tumours.

First you will have a local anaesthetic to numb the area. A small needle is used to inject the alcohol through your skin, directly into the centre of the tumour. An ultrasound or CT scanner is used to guide the needle. The alcohol dries out the cancer cells, they disintegrate and the tumour dies.

The treatment can be painful, and painkillers are given afterwards. Some people feel drunk for 10-15 minutes afterwards.

You may need to stay in hospital for a few hours after your treatment in case you have bleeding, continuing pain or fever.

Only one injection is given at a time, and the treatment may need to be repeated.