Questions to Ask a Doctor Before Liver Cancer Surgery

If you have been diagnosed with liver cancer, you will have a number of questions for your doctor. Hepatic, or "liver," cancers bring with them a number of special concerns that are not found with other types of cancer. Ask your doctor about the specifics of your case, about taking a multidisciplinary approach and about the surgery itself. It is a good idea to bring someone with you to appointments when you discuss your treatment, and take notes as well. Chances are you will be presented with a lot of information to absorb and understand.

Questions About Your Cancer

• Ask your doctor for information about your specific type of liver cancer. For example, is your cancer hepatocellular, the most common type? Fibrolamellar, a rare hepatocellular subtype that's more easily treatable? Knowing the specifics of your liver cancer can help you understand your treatment and prognosis.

  Ask which stage your liver cancer is in; this is one of the most important diagnostic criteria. This information will help predict your prognosis and guide your treatment options. Your doctor should be able to tell you why a particular treatment course has been chosen for your liver cancer and what to expect during and after treatment. Patients with liver cancer usually suffer from jaundice and weight loss; talk with your doctor about managing these symptoms.

Multidisciplinary Management

• A multidisciplinary approach benefits all cancer patients, but it is especially crucial for patients with liver cancer. The liver is an essential organ and it affects numerous body systems. Treatment for liver cancer cannot be considered in a vacuum. Make sure your doctor is working as part of a multidisciplinary team from the beginning of your treatment.

  Depending on your case, you may need a variety of care providers, including a surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, gastroenterologist, liver specialist, pathologist, home care provider and coordinator. The multidisciplinary team will consider the form of your cancer, how advanced your cancer is and your general health in making its treatment recommendations.

Surgical Concerns

• Before consenting to surgery, ask about options that will help conserve liver tissue. The more liver tissue can be preserved, the more likely you will have a good outcome.

  Ask your doctor what kind of surgery will be performed. Surgical options include removing the part of the liver where the tumor is located, killing the tumor, placing an infusion pump into the liver to deliver chemotherapy medications, or combinations of these procedures.