This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 09-5009) is about cancer* that starts in the liver (primary liver cancer). Each year in the United States, about 15,000 men and 6,000 women are told they have primary liver cancer. Most are over 64 years old.

Learning about medical care for liver cancer can help you take an active part in making choices about your care. This booklet tells about:

• Diagnosis and staging
  
  
• Treatment and supportive care
  
  
• Taking part in research studies

This booklet has lists of questions that you may want to ask your doctor. Many people find it helpful to take a list of questions to a doctor visit. To help remember what your doctor says, you can take notes or ask whether you may use a tape recorder. You may also want to have a family member or friend go with you when you talk with the doctor--to take notes, ask questions, or just listen.

For the latest information about liver cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/liver. Also, the NCI Cancer Information Service can answer your questions about cancer. We can also send you NCI booklets and fact sheets. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or instant message us through the LiveHelp ² service at http://www.cancer.gov/help ³.

This booklet is mainly about adult liver cancer. It does not deal with childhood liver cancer. Information about childhood liver cancer is available on the NCI Web site and from the NCI Cancer Information Service.

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.

A large organ located in the upper abdomen. The liver cleanses the blood and aids in digestion by secreting bile.

To spread from one part of the body to another. When cancer cells metastasize and form secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic tumor are like those in the original (primary) tumor.

Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from the primary site (place where it started) to other places in the body.

A part of the body that performs a specific function. For example, the heart is an organ.

Care given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease. The goal of supportive care is to prevent or treat as early as possible the symptoms of a disease, side effects caused by treatment of a disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to a disease or its treatment. Also called comfort care, palliative care, and symptom management.

A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.