Treatment aims first to cure the cancer. Treatment (other than surgery) is also called therapy (for example, chemotherapy and radiotherapy). If treatment cannot cure the cancer, it will aim to slow down its growth. From the beginning, your healthcare team will also be trying to relieve any symptoms you have (such as pain or jaundice). This is called palliative treatment.

Your treatment options will depend on a number of things:

• The type of cancer you have. The treatment for primary liver cancer is different to the treatment for secondary cancer.
• How widespread the cancer is. For example, if the cancer is just in a small area, surgery to cut it out may be possible. If the cancer is widespread, such surgery may not be effective, and other options will be considered.
• Where the cancer is. Sometimes the cancer is growing in a position that would make surgery, or another kind of treatment, dangerous.
• How well your liver is working.
• Your age and general health and fitness. Some patients may not be strong enough to go through major surgery, for example.
• The treatment for children is different to that for adults. Your hospital multidisciplinary team will be able to give you detailed information about the options.

If you have secondary liver cancer, you will be treated according to the type of primary cancer you have had. This is because the cancer cells are not liver cells, but the same as in the organ where the cancer first grew. For this reason, you should also look at the information about the type of cancer you were originally diagnosed with.

Your doctors will tell you about the risks, benefits and side-effects of the treatments you are offered, and how they may affect your life afterwards. Your wishes will be taken into account in deciding the treatment plan.

Your consent
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent.

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Hormonal therapies
New treatments
Palliative treatment and supportive care