Imagine a world where hope shines brighter than fear, resilience triumphs over adversity, and every individual affected by liver cancer feels supported on their healthcare journey.
This is the vision that drives us here at Vascular and Interventional Partners.
Today, we’re recognizing the month of October as Liver Cancer Awareness Month. This condition is responsible for over 700,000 deaths each year worldwide and is one of the most challenging types of cancer to treat.
But as Arizona’s leading outpatient endovascular center, we believe hope and healing are possible - even in the face of fear and adversity. That’s why we have dedicated ourselves to empowering patients with the knowledge, tools, and accessible healthcare options they need.
The liver is an amazing organ found in the upper right side of the abdomen that plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy body. It does so by performing a range of crucial functions, including:
But when cancer comes in to attack this complex organ, these functions are impaired.
What makes liver cancer especially challenging to treat is that it often goes undetected until it's in an advanced stage. Additionally, because the liver is such a vital organ, it can not be fully removed.
Treating it, therefore, requires a delicate approach.
So, what are patients diagnosed with this condition to do?
At Vascular and Interventional Partners, we offer several innovative treatment options for liver cancer with three primary procedures at the helm: TACE, Y90 Radioembolization, and Ablation.
Trans-Arterial Chemotherapy Embolization (TACE) involves filling a tumor with chemo-infused beads, which absorb over several days and shrink or kill off the tumor. This procedure is performed at our office in Scottsdale, takes about 5 hours from door to discharge, and has a relatively quick recovery time.
Y90 Radioembolization is performed as two separate procedures, done about a week apart. During the first procedure, a small radioactive isotope is deposited into the tumor to determine if the patient is a good candidate for Y-90. If they are, we deposit radioactive particles into the tumor during the second procedure, which will release radiation over two weeks and shrink or kill the tumor.
This treatment is also performed at our office in Scottsdale, takes about 5 hours from door to discharge, and patients are able to recover at home after both procedures - no lengthy hospital stays required!
Ablations are performed at a hospital in the Phoenix area, utilizing one of three methods:
Each type of ablation has specific indications and benefits, which you can expect to discuss with our team during your initial consultation.
For patients with advanced-stage liver cancer, these therapies should be considered in conjunction with the care provided by the doctor primarily treating the patient's cancer. In many cases, these procedures are considered "Second Line" options, meant to be used after initial rounds of traditional treatments like systemic chemotherapy.
Image-guided therapies, such as the ones described above, offer a range of benefits for patients battling liver cancer, including
Additionally, most of these treatments are covered by insurance, making them a more accessible option for those struggling with the financial burden of cancer treatment - giving patients one less thing to worry about while they focus on their recovery.
At Vascular and Interventional Partners, we understand that cancer treatment is not only about physical healing but emotional healing as well. That’s why we intentionally provide our patients with the best care and treatment options available for liver cancer.
Our team of experienced interventional radiologists offers innovative and minimally invasive treatment options that are more accessible, less painful, and can help restore your quality of life. We value our patient’s trust and are grateful for the opportunity to serve our community in this way.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with liver cancer, we can help. Simply visit us online to book your consultation, or give us a call at (480) 372-8658.
