Previous
Next
You go for a routine check-up because you have been feeling tired, losing weight without trying, or experiencing occasional discomfort on the right side of your abdomen.
Then an ultrasound or scan shows a suspicious spot on your liver.
Suddenly, a question that seemed far away becomes very real: “Could this be cancer, and what should I do next?”
A liver lesion does not automatically mean cancer. Some liver growths are benign. But when a scan, blood test or biopsy raises concern, getting the right specialist opinion can make a major difference in understanding what comes next.
A liver cancer specialist evaluates the diagnosis, stage, liver function and overall health before recommending a treatment plan. Surgery may be one option, but it is not the only one.
Liver cancer treatment can be complex because the tumour and the condition of the remaining liver both matter.
A specialist may evaluate cancers that begin in the liver as well as certain cancers that spread to the liver from another part of the body.
Treatment may involve expertise in:
Primary liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Liver tumours
Metastatic liver cancer
Bile duct-related cancers
Surgical removal of suitable liver tumours
Liver-directed procedures
Multidisciplinary cancer treatment
For patients considering a consultation with Dr. Abhishek Aggarwal, the first priority should be understanding exactly what the scan or report means and whether the liver lesion can be treated safely.
No.
This is one of the most important things to understand before making a decision.
Some liver lesions are harmless and may only require observation. In confirmed liver cancer, treatment depends on factors such as tumour size, number of tumours, location, whether the cancer has spread, and how well the liver is functioning.
A tumour is limited enough to be removed safely while leaving sufficient healthy liver behind.
For selected patients, surgery can potentially remove the cancer completely.
But other patients may be better suited to ablation, embolization-based treatments, systemic medicines, radiation-based approaches, transplantation evaluation, or combinations of treatments.
The right treatment is highly individual.
The liver is different from many other organs because doctors have to consider not only the tumour but also how much healthy liver remains.
Someone with a healthy liver may have different surgical options from someone whose liver has significant scarring or cirrhosis.
Before surgery is considered, doctors may review:
Liver function
Tumour size and location
Number of tumours
Blood tests
Imaging scans
Whether blood vessels are involved
Whether cancer has spread elsewhere
Your general health
This is why choosing treatment based only on tumour size can be misleading.
Early liver cancer may not always cause obvious symptoms.
When symptoms do appear, they can include unexplained weight loss, reduced appetite, persistent tiredness, abdominal discomfort, a lump or fullness under the ribs, nausea or jaundice.
These symptoms can also occur with many non-cancerous conditions.
You should not assume that fatigue or abdominal discomfort means liver cancer. However, persistent or unexplained symptoms deserve medical evaluation, particularly if you have known liver disease or other risk factors.
Imagine a patient with a history of chronic liver disease who undergoes regular monitoring.
A scan identifies a small suspicious liver lesion. Instead of waiting until symptoms appear, the patient gets specialist evaluation and additional imaging.
If the lesion is confirmed as an early-stage liver cancer and is technically removable, surgery may become a treatment option.
The important lesson is not that every liver cancer should be operated on.
It is that finding and assessing liver cancer early can open treatment options that may become harder to use as the disease progresses.
The global cancer burden remains substantial. The IARC's GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates reported liver cancer among the leading cancers worldwide, with approximately 866,000 new liver cancer cases in 2024.
That number should not create unnecessary fear.
It should reinforce a more practical message: unexplained liver findings should be evaluated properly rather than ignored.
A common belief is: “If the tumour is small, there is nothing to worry about.”
We would challenge that.
Size matters, but it is not the whole story.
The tumour's location, number, relationship to blood vessels, liver function and whether the disease has spread can all influence treatment.
A small tumour in a difficult location may require a very different approach from another tumour of the same size.
So don't judge your treatment options from the scan's measurements alone.
Your specialist will usually want to review your previous reports rather than make a decision from one isolated scan.
Depending on the situation, additional imaging or blood tests may be recommended. A multidisciplinary team may also be involved, particularly when several treatment options are possible.
Take your:
Ultrasound reports
CT or MRI scans
Blood-test results
Previous liver-related medical records
List of current medicines
Previous biopsy or pathology reports, if available
Having this information together can make the consultation much more productive.
Cancer consultations can feel overwhelming, so write your questions down beforehand.
Is the liver lesion definitely cancer?
What type and stage is it?
Has the cancer spread?
Is surgery possible in my case?
What other treatment options do I have?
What happens if I wait?
How will treatment affect my liver function?
You deserve clear answers before making a major treatment decision.
A second opinion can be particularly useful when surgery is being recommended, when the diagnosis is complex, or when you have been offered several possible treatment approaches.
It does not mean you are rejecting your first doctor's advice.
It means you want to understand your options before committing to an important treatment.
Liver cancer can sometimes develop without dramatic symptoms, particularly in its earlier stages.
If an imaging test has already identified a suspicious lesion, waiting for pain or jaundice before seeking specialist advice is not a good strategy.
The sooner you understand what the lesion represents, the sooner you can discuss appropriate options.
For selected patients whose cancer can be completely removed and who have enough healthy liver remaining, surgery may offer a potentially curative option. Suitability depends on the individual case.
No. Many liver lesions are benign. Imaging and, when appropriate, other investigations help doctors determine what type of lesion is present.
There is no single best treatment for every patient. Options can include surgery, ablation, liver-directed treatments, medicines, transplantation evaluation and combinations of therapies depending on the cancer and liver condition.
If you have been told that you have a suspicious liver lesion or have received a liver cancer diagnosis, don't try to make sense of the report alone.
Understand the diagnosis, find out the stage, ask whether surgery is possible and discuss all reasonable treatment options before making a decision.
If you need expert evaluation for a suspected or confirmed liver tumour, schedule a consultation with Dr. Abhishek Aggarwal to discuss your reports and the most appropriate treatment path for your individual condition.