Liver Cancer
Treatment in Malaysia

At Onco Life Centre, our team takes a personalized approach to treating liver cancer. We focus not only on treating the disease, but also on supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our patients every step of the way.

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Cancer begins when healthy cells change and grow out of control, forming a mass called a tumor.

A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer that begins in the liver is known as primary liver cancer

Why Choose Onco Life Centre?

Expertise You Can Trust, Innovation You Can Count On

Over 20 Years of
Experience

Our highly-qualified consultant oncologists boast extensive experience treating a vast array of cancers. Their training at prestigious institutions in Australia and the UK ensures exceptional expertise that you can trust.

Collaboration with
Leading Genomics Experts

For complex cases, our oncologists collaborate with leading genomics specialists in the US. This ensures access to the latest treatments for all cancer types.

Unmatched
patient experience

You and your healthcare experience are at the centre of what we do at Onco Life Centre. Our core values of Empathy, Dedication, Professionalism and Service Quality have driven us since our earliest days.

Treatment Methods

Treatments to eliminate and potentially cure HCC

These treatments are recommended for early stage liver cancer. These treatments include surgery, radiofrequency ablation, percutaneous ethanol injection, and radiation therapy.

Treatments to extend survival of patients and improve quality of life

While these treatments will most likely not eliminate the cancer, they have been shown to improve symptoms, quality of life and survival.

Chemoembolization and radio embolization

During chemoembolization, chemotherapy drugs for liver cancer are injected into the hepatic artery, and the flow of blood through the artery is blocked for a short time so the chemotherapy stays in the tumor longer.

Blocking the blood supply to the tumor also destroys cancer cells. During radio embolization, the specialist places radioactive beads into the artery that supplies the tumor with blood. The beads deliver radiation therapy directly into the tumor when they become trapped in the small blood vessels of the tumor.

Targeted therapy for liver cancer

Targeted therapy is drug treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells.

Recent studies show that not all tumors have the same targets. To find the most effective treatment, our Oncologist may run genomic tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor.

This will help out oncologist better match you with the most effective targeted therapies whenever possible.

For HCC, anti-angiogenesis drugs are the most common type of targeted therapy. Anti-angiogenesis therapies focused on stopping angiogenesis, which is the process of making new blood vessels.

Because a tumor needs the nutrients delivered by blood vessels to grow and spread, the goal of anti-angiogenesis therapies is to “starve” the tumor.

The first anti-angiogenesis therapy is believed to work through this process and used to treat advanced HCC that cannot be completely removed with surgery. In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of a second oral targeted therapy for previously treated HCC.

In 2018, a 3rd anti-angiogenesis oral targeted therapy for liver cancer was approved by the FDA as first-line treatment for inoperable HCC.

Please click here to learn more about Targeted Therapy

Immunotherapy for liver cancer

Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy, is designed to boost the body’s natural defenses to fight the cancer.

The PD-1 pathway is critical in the immune system’s ability to control cancer growth. PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies block this pathway and can stop the growth of HCC.

In 2017, the FDA approved an immune checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of liver cancer HCC, following the use of a targeted therapy.

In 2020, the FDA subsequently approved the use of a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors that work to block the PDL-1 pathway that would otherwise allow the cancer to hide from the immune system.

Please click here to learn more about Immunotherapy

Treatment By Stage

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system categorizes HCC based on characteristics of the tumor, liver function, performance status, and cancer-related symptoms.

BCLC stage groupings include:

Liver Cancer Early stage

The tumor is smaller than 5 cm. Liver function varies, and portal vein pressure may or may not be increased.

Patients with early-stage disease may be candidates for a liver transplant, surgery, or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Liver Cancer Intermediate stage

The tumor may be large or there may be multiple tumors. Regional therapies, such as trans-arterial chemoembolization maybe recommended for these patients with intermediate stage HCC.

Liver Cancer Advanced stage

The tumor has invaded the portal vein or spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, and bones.
Targeted therapy or immunotherapy maybe recommended for these patients.

Transparency You Can Trust

At Onco Life Centre, we understand the financial burden associated with Liver Cancer treatment. We are committed to transparency and will provide you with a personalized cost estimate during your initial consultation. Here is an estimate:

Targeted Therapy:

At Onco Life Centre, the cost of liver cancer targeted therapy is from MYR4,000.

Immunotherapy

Average cost of immunotherapy for liver cancer is estimated to be MYR10,000 depending on the specific type and dosage of immunotherapy drug used.

Types of primary liver cancer in adults

There are a number of types of primary liver cancer that occur in adults.

Hepatocellular carcinoma – Approximately 75% of liver cancers are HCC
Cholangiocarcinoma – Approximately 10-20% of liver cancers develop In the bile duct of the liver
Angiosarcomas – About 1% of liver cancers start in the blood vessels of the liver and grows very quickly

Symptoms and Signs

Patients with HCC may experience no symptoms, particularly when the tumor is detected early as part of a screening program. When symptoms or signs do occur, they include:

Pain in the right upper abdominal area, near the right shoulder blade
Unexplained weight loss
A hard lump under the ribs at the right upper abdominal area
Weakness or fatigue

Some symptoms experienced by people with HCC may be caused by cirrhosis rather than the tumor.

Diagnosis

Blood tests
AFP levels in the blood are elevated in about 50% to 70% of people who have HCC.

Computed tomography (CT) scans
HCC can be diagnosed based on features specific to liver cancer that are seen on a CT scan.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
An MRI scan uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the body.

Biopsy
A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope.
When the AFP blood test, CT scan, or MRI strongly indicates HCC, and other test results that are typical of HCC, a biopsy may not be needed.

Molecular testing of the tumor
These laboratory tests will identify specific genes, proteins, and other factors unique to liver cancer.

Results of these tests will help determine your treatment options.

Start Your Recovery

Our dedicated Patient Navigator will assist you with appointment scheduling. Contact us at +6012-3993260 (Call or Whatsapp ).

First Consultation

On appointment day, bring along all the medical reports and your identity documents, ie. identity card or passport. Our team will help you organize the medical reports for our oncologist to review. Our oncologist will discuss the treatment plan with you. Tele-consult is available for overseas patients.

Treatment Day

Come to our center on an agreed date and time for the treatment. Our team will take good care of you. You will be discharged on the same day. Yes, you will get to go home after every treatment visit as no overnight admission is required.

Stay on Track

Our dedicated patient navigator will be following up with you post treatment to check on your condition, to ensure that you are doing well. You will receive a reminder message on your phone for the next appointment date.