Liver cancer

Palliative treatment for liver cancer

Overview

If liver cancer is advanced when it is first diagnosed or returns after initial treatment, your doctor will discuss treatment options to help control the cancer’s spread and relieve symptoms. This is called palliative treatment.

Liver cancer booklet (PDF)

About this information

The information on this website is not medical, legal or financial advice. Always consult appropriate professionals about your specific situation. Full disclaimer.

Reviewers

This information has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative.

All updated content has been clinically reviewed by:

A/Prof Simone Strasser, Head of Department and Hepatologist, AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and The University of Sydney, NSW; and A/Prof Siddhartha Baxi, Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director, GenesisCare, Gold Coast, QLD. This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: A/Prof Simone Strasser (see above); A/Prof Siddhartha Baxi (see above); Prof Katherine Clark, Clinical Director of Palliative Care, NSLHD Supportive and Palliative Care Network, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Anne Dowling, Hepatoma Clinical Nurse Consultant and Liver Transplant Coordinator, Austin Health, VIC; A/Prof Koroush Haghighi, Liver, Pancreas and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon, Prince of Wales and St Vincent's Hospitals, NSW; Karen Hall, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Brett Knowles, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and General Surgeon, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and St Vincent's Hospital, VIC; Lina Sharma, Consumer; David Thomas, Consumer; Clinical A/Prof Michael Wallace, Department of Hepatology and Western Australian Liver Transplant Service, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Medical School, The University of Western Australia, WA; Prof Desmond Yip, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, ACT.

We would like to thank all the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on current and past editions of this title.

View our editorial policy.

Palliative treatment helps to improve people’s quality of life by managing the symptoms of cancer when a cure is not possible. It is best thought of as supportive care.

Many people think that palliative treatment is for people at the end of their life, but it may help at any stage of advanced liver cancer. It is about living as long as possible in the most satisfying way you can.

Treatment may include radiation therapy; pain management; insertion of a stent in the bile duct to relieve jaundice; or drainage of fluid.

Palliative treatment is one aspect of palliative care, in which a team of health professionals aims to meet your physical, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual needs. The team also supports families and carers.

I’d like people with advanced cancer to know that there are a myriad of services. You only have to ask; you are not alone.

Pat

More information

Palliative care

Palliative care offers support to meet your physical, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual needs.

Living with advanced cancer

Read about living with advanced cancer, such as what treatments are available, when to think about palliative care, and what the future looks like.

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Liver Foundation

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Pancare Foundation

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