Liver tumors can remain “silent” for a long time and not be discovered until late. But, thanks to better monitoring of people with cirrhosis orhepatitis (the disease from which Eric Abidal suffers), there is now a greater number of underdeveloped liver cancers. There are around 6,000 new cases each year.
Note that in these cases of liver cancer so-called “primary” are added a number of secondary tumors, linked to the dissemination of metastases from a tumor localized in another organ. In France, it is men who are most often affected by this type of secondary cancer: they represent 80% of cases.
Liver tumor: sometimes ultrasound is sufficient
When the operation is not possible but the tumor is small enough (less than 3 centimeters) doctors offer ultrasound treatment which destroys the cancer cells. Otherwise, they may consider chemoembolization: an operation that clogs the vessels that nourish the tumor that is accompanied by local chemotherapy.
When the liver tumor is operable, doctors perform surgical resection (that is, removal of the tumor). It is this type of operation that Eric Abidal underwent a year ago.
Finally, it is sometimes possible to consider a liver transplant. The latter technique is effective, since the five-year survival rate is 70%, but if it is not extremely widespread, it is because it faces a shortage of grafts.
Liver tumor: when a transplant is needed
For Dr Térèsa Antonini, hepatologist at Paul-Brousse hospital, in the Paris region, three possibilities explain the need for a liver transplant. “Either the cancer has returned, in which case you can’t reopen several times and you therefore need a new liver. Or the liver that remains has suffered too much from the operation and is not functioning well. Finally, it may also be possible. that there have been surgical complications which mean that the liver cannot perform well enough to survive. “
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