Every treatment aims at eliminating the cancer completely or preventing the cancer from growing. The liver cancer treatment depends on the stage of the disease. We shall see the treatment of primary liver cancer which includes:

1. Surgery: The liver cancer treatment for localized respectable cancer is an operation which is called as surgical resection. Many a times the area of the liver where the cancer is found could also be removed. Resections do not confirm the possibility of recurrence of cancer after few years.

2. Alcohol Injection: In this treatment of liver cancer pure alcohol is injected directly into tumors. This is because alcohol dries up the cells of the tumor and the cells die. One injection is given in each treatment and if required series of injections could also be given. This treatment could also be used to reduce the symptoms if a patient has metastatic tumors. This treatment is useful for patients with hepatocellular tumors and also reduces the symptoms of metastatic liver cancers. The common side effect is leaking of the alcohol on the liver or the abdominal cavity.

3. Radiofrequency ablation: In this another type of liver cancer treatment, electric current is used in the range of radiofrequency to destroy the cancer cells. An ultrasound or CT scan is used by the surgeon to insert many thin needles into small incisions in the abdomen. These thin needles after reaching the tumor get heated thereby destroying the cancer cells. The outcome of this treatment is better although the complications are higher than alcohol injection.

4. Chemoembolization: Under this chemotherapeutic treatment strong anti-cancer drugs are supplied directly to the liver. It shrinks tumors up to certain level which increases the survival expectancy and also reduces symptoms. The hepatic artery from which liver cancers receive the blood supply is blocked. The chemotherapy drugs are injected between the blockage and the liver. Although the side effects are same as other chemotherapy but they are reduced. Lowered blood cell counts or hair loss might not occur with this therapy.

5. Cryoablation (cryosurgery or cryotherapy): This liver cancer treatment utilizes extreme cold to destroy the cancer cells. This therapy is given to people whose primary and metastatic liver cancers cannot be operated. This treatment could also be used in addition to surgery or chemotherapy. An instrument containing liquid nitrogen is placed directly onto the liver tumors. Ultrasound images are used to monitor the freezing of the cells. The common side effects are damage to the bile ducts and blood vessels, which might lead to bleeding or infection.

6. Radiation therapy: High powered energy beams are used to destroy the cancer cells and shrink the tumors. Radiation might come from outside the person.s body or from materials inserted inside the liver. Radiation might also be used to treat unresectable cancer. Radiation therapy is also normally used after the cancer or tumor is removed by surgery so that the remaining malignant cells are destroyed. Fatigue, nausea and vomiting are the side-effects of the radiation therapy.

7. Chemotherapy: This liver cancer treatment uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. This type of therapy is systemic chemotherapy which means that it travels throughout a person.s body in the blood stream. Systemic chemotherapy might not be effective in treating liver cancer but could be an option.

8. Liver transplantation: In liver transplantation the diseased liver is surgically removed and a healthy donated liver is transplanted. Liver transplantation is an option for people with small, early stage liver tumors and bile duct tumors. Liver transplant may not work especially if the tumors are large as there are chances of cancer occurring outside the new liver.

9. Sorafenib (Nexavar): Approved by Food and Drug Administration, this kind of therapy is used in the advanced stages of inoperable liver cancer. This therapy is designed in such a way that it interferes with a tumor.s ability to generate new blood vessels. It slows down or stops the advanced liver cancer from growing further for few months.