Liver Cancer Care at Henry Ford Health
A diagnosis of “Liver Cancer,” needs a quick and effective response. At Henry Ford Health, we encourage anyone with a liver disease diagnosis to seek a second opinion at a leading regional center before beginning treatment. At Henry Ford Hospital, our liver specialists will review your doctor’s diagnosis and as needed offer options for treatment, including state-of-the-art technology and procedures coupled with some of America’s leading hepatologists, interventional radiologists and surgeons.
Liver Cancer Treatments
Whenever possible, our liver tumor treatment team prefers minimally invasive techniques to remove or destroy tumors. Minimally invasive techniques help patients avoid the large incisions and painful recoveries associated with traditional surgery. These include:
- Ablation Therapy
Radiation, electromagnetic microwaves, or cold temperatures are used to destroy tumors. - Liver Surgery
Whenever possible, this is performed laparoscopically, using small keyhole incisions and speeding recovery. - Systemic Therapy
Medications are available to slow the growth of tumors for those with inoperable cancer. - Clinical Trials
Because Henry Ford Health is a respected research institution, you have a better chance of receiving the opportunity to try new treatments as part of clinical trials. - Liver Transplant
Henry Ford Transplant is Michigan’s most comprehensive organ transplant program. Our liver transplant team is also Michigan’s most experienced providing deceased and living donor liver transplants. After all we pioneered living donor liver transplantation in Michigan and have offered this consistently since 2000 as a viable option to our patients who are on the transplant waitlist. About 30 percent of our liver transplant patients have a history of liver cancer. Among transplant recipients who have been treated for liver cancer, our patients have a 90 percent survival rate one year after surgery and a 75 to 80 percent survival rate five years afterward.
Beyond treatment, we provide a range of education and support options to all our cancer patients.
The Team Approach
Not only will you have your personal care team, but your Henry Ford liver specialist is also part of a much larger team dedicated to finding the best treatments for you. Our tumor board meets regularly to evaluate and discuss the best treatment options for each patient.