Every stage of life is susceptible to disease. Therefore, maintaining good health at every stage of life is crucial. Regular check-ups are crucial for the person in such circumstances. Early diagnosis is critical for some diseases.
Diseases like cancer can be treated more easily, especially if they are detected early. The condition known as liver cancer can develop directly from the liver. Additionally, liver tumours that are malignant can cause it.
What is Liver Cancer Surgery?
Liver cancer refers to malignant tumours that develop from the liver’s own tissue. Imaging is used to make diagnoses. One frequent form of cancer is liver cancer.
In order to get rid of this malignant tumour in the body, the treatment involves performing surgery to remove the tumor. Surgery is preferred when the tumour mass can be removed and the liver can still function normally.
The chemo embolization method is used if the patient cannot undergo surgery. Drugs are injected using this technique into the liver artery. On this method, mass growth is attempted to be constrained.
It has the characteristic of returning over time following surgery for liver cancer. As a result, after treatment, the patient needs to be carefully monitored. If the mass cannot be removed, the patient has a liver transplant, and after the transplant, the patients are closely followed up with and monitored in the same manner.
Furthermore, it is impossible to estimate how long this surgery will take in terms of time. During surgery, excessive blood loss significantly boosts the blood supply. It is also well known that drug use carries on for a very long time after.
What are the Types of Liver Cancer Surgery in Izmir?
Both treatment surgeries and transplant surgeries fall under the category of surgery. It is the surgery done to remove the majority of the liver tumour during the treatment procedure. Hepatectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of a portion of the liver.
A disseminated tumour is operated on during transplant surgery. Since the liver cannot be saved by removing the tumor, transplantation is required. There are two ways to carry out the operations: open and closed.
Closed surgery is carried out through incisions that are 5 mm and 1.5 cm long. This is done to remove the area containing the cancerous tumor. It is used in transplant procedures involving open surgery.
Who Can Have Liver Cancer Surgery?
Liver cancer has different stages. It is first necessary to know the stage of liver cancer in order to decide on the treatment strategy. Liver cancer progresses through four stages. The liver is the only organ or tissue that the tumour has not yet spread to in stage one liver cancer.
Small tumours are found in the liver tissue of patients with liver cancer in the second stage, and the tumour has been found to have spread to the blood vessels.
The liver has been overtaken by numerous, sizable tumours or a newly formed large tumour has been found to have affected a sizable vessel in the third stage of liver cancer. The fourth stage of liver cancer involves metastasizing and the spread of the disease to additional bodily organs and structures.
Liver cancer is divided into primary and secondary types. This specific cancer type affects the primary liver tissue. A cancer type known as secondary develops in one organ before spreading to the liver.
Masses in the liver that are liver metastases come in various sizes. At first, it is not apparent. The disease is diagnosed as the process continues and new findings start to emerge. Along with the mass, the patient also exhibits abdominal swelling, back pain, and other similar complaints.
The type of metastasis, the number of visible masses, and the size of the mass or masses are all factors that affect the treatment.
The tumour is removed if it is small and has not spread to a significant portion of the liver, which is a requirement for liver cancer. Organ transplantation is carried out if it is designated for a large mass. For a liver transplant, there are a few prerequisites.
The transplantation operation is not carried out if these requirements, which must be satisfied for the transplantation operation, are not met. The person’s relatives are assessed first during the transplant procedure. Relatives of the person have a higher level of organ compatibility than other individuals.
For the transplant, some tests are conducted. The blood group test is the most crucial component of these examinations. Both the donor’s and the recipient’s blood groups must match exactly. Positive outcomes won’t be attained even with organ transplantation if it isn’t the same. Urine testing is yet another test.
To determine if you have an infectious disease, psychological testing, testing, radiological examination, and medical examination are performed.
The tests that should be performed before a transplant include checks to see how well the donor’s liver is functioning, checks to see how well the recipient’s liver is functioning, and finally checks to look at the bile. Transplant surgery cannot proceed if one of these tests yields a negative, or inconsistent, result.
What are the Risks and Complications of Liver Cancer Surgery?
Each procedure carries different risks. This makes it extremely important to thoroughly research the operation process and to take the necessary safety precautions.
- Surgery for liver cancer carries a number of risks. The following is a list of potential risks and complications from the procedure.
- During and after surgery, bleeding is a possibility.
- After the surgical removal of the tumor, there is a chance of liver failure.
- If a patient has had a liver transplant, the patient may experience complications from immunosuppressive therapy, malignancy infection, hypertension, or rejection.
- Psychological issues could arise.
- Immunosuppressive therapy nonadherence may be seen.
- The possibility of liver disease returning exists.
- Neurological issues could arise. There may also be other issues of this nature.
Recovery Process After Liver Cancer Surgery
The period following surgery is when we are in the recovery process. It aims to provide nourishment for the desired patient throughout the healing process, as well as for the patient’s comfort, an early start to movement, and the prevention of complications that could arise in the patient after the operation.
Following surgery, the patient’s ability to perform life-sustaining functions and other conditions like blood pressure and consciousness are monitored. Urine’s colour and volume are examined. After the first 24 hours following surgery, vital functions are frequently checked to ensure that there are no issues with the healing process.
The patient is constantly monitored in order to prevent complications, such as bleeding, for example. Another crucial factor for the recovery process is post-operative nutrition.
According to the surgical procedure, the answers to questions like when the patient should start feeding, how, and with which foods are determined. A programme is created in accordance with this conclusion.
It is important during this process that the patient begin taking oral nutrition as soon as possible.
Nutrition helps the immune and healing systems work more effectively. It’s crucial to get back to your regular physical activities right away after surgery. After being discharged from the hospital, a few issues could arise during the healing process.
such as a high fever, nausea, jaundice, post-op pain, stitches coming out, wound inflammation, and severe abdominal swelling. A doctor must be contacted if such unsettling complaints occur. After the liver and resting after the transplant, the recovery period lasts at least 4-6 weeks.
The length of this time varies from person to person. The body’s pain and fatigue may not go away for up to 8 to 12 months.
After a closed surgery, daily light exercise, like walking, can be done after one week, but intense exercise, like sit-ups, can only be done after one month.
After open surgery, there is a longer recovery period than after closed surgery. It might take some time to start moving around because doing so will make the wound sore. Heavy physical activity should be avoided for three to six months because of this.
Life Process After Liver Cancer Surgery
The likelihood of survival following liver cancer depends on how quickly and successfully the operation was completed.
The patient’s gender, weight, quality of life, diet, certain special conditions, and a variety of other factors are also among the causes of the variation in life expectancy for patients.
It has been noted that 75% of patients who have had liver transplants experience an increase in life expectancy. In order to extend life expectancy, it’s crucial that the patient continue taking the medications they need to continue receiving treatment after a transplant and remain under continuous physician supervision.
What Should Those Who Have Liver Surgery Pay Attention To?
- It’s crucial to clean your body. Use liquid soap to wash your hands. Every day, new towels should be provided.
- It is crucial for women to switch pads on days when they have their periods because the blood is an environment where bacteria grow more quickly. Regular vaginal cleaning is advised.
- Avoid overexposing yourself to the sun because it increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Going outside in the sun at noon should be avoided because the sun’s rays are strongest then. When going outside in the sun, you can protect yourself by wearing a hat and sunscreen. During this time, the patient shouldn’t visit the solarium.
- Diet and nutrition are crucial for the patient. Every day, weight should be monitored. Sugary foods should not be consumed in between meals. Low-calorie fruits and vegetables should be consumed when hunger is felt. Drink 2 litres of water on average each day. To preserve the vitamins in vegetables during cooking, use a pressure cooker. Less salt should be consumed.
- Another thing that requires attention is exercise. It aids in keeping our weight at the appropriate level. It aids in the restoration of the former shape of the weakened muscles.
Alcohol consumption is never a good idea. Alcohol is broken down by the liver, which harms it. Alcohol should be strictly avoided after a liver transplant because the liver is more sensitive. - Stopping to smoke is advisable. Unhealthy behaviours can hinder a person’s recovery from the disease and lead to a relapse. As a result, it is crucial to take good care of one’s health.
How Much Are Liver Cancer Surgery Prices?
Giving an average cost for liver cancer surgery in Izmir is very challenging. The price change is influenced by elements like the doctor’s experience, technical expertise, and surgical skill in treating liver cancer.
For instance, different institutions may offer different price information on liver transplantation. This is due in large part to the fact that the transplant procedure necessitates sophisticated technology.
Prices for liver cancer surgery in Zmir can vary from patient to patient. Because, as we’ve already mentioned, not every patient receives a treatment in the same way. As a result, costs for treatment may vary from patient to patient.
However, the patient can obtain accurate cost information after being examined prior to liver cancer surgery. Ask your hospital and doctor questions if you want more information about this procedure in-depth.
The information on this page is not legally binding and should not be used for therapeutic purposes. When deciding on the best course of action for treating your health issue, you can get more detailed information if you seek support and guidance from medical organisations and specialists.
Associate Professor İsmail SERT finished his specialty training at the Tepecik Training and Research Hospital’s General Surgery Clinic after earning his medical degree from Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine. He spent six months at Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland learning about pancreatic islet cell transplantation, liver and kidney transplantation, liver and pancreas surgery during his residency. At the Liver Transplant Institute in Malatya, he received training as a liver transplant fellow for six months. He then continued his education in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, at the Erasmus MC University Hospital, where he trained in liver, pancreas, and biliary tract surgery, as well as at clinics for kidney and liver transplants. He began the liver transplant programme at the Tepecik Training and Research Hospital’s Organ Transplant Clinic in December 2018 and successfully completed it.
