The cause of liver cancer is usually scarring of the liver. Cirrhosis may be caused by viral hepatitis, primarily hepatitis B and C, alcohol abuse, hemochromatosis, certain autoimmune diseases of the liver, and other diseases that result in chronic inflammation of the liver Aggressive surgery or liver transplantation may be successful in treating small or slow-growing tumors if they are diagnosed early. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are not usually effective but may be used to shrink large tumors so that surgery has a greater chance of success. The usual outcome is poor, because only 10 - 20% of hepatocellular carcinomas can be removed completely using surgery. If the cancer cannot be completely removed, the disease is usually deadly within 3 to 6 months, although this varies greatly. Survival much longer than this occasionally occurs.

I was diagnosed with liver cancer just over a year ago. My tumor was so large that it couldn't be opperated on, either removal of the tumor, or trnsplant. My AFP (count?) was 45,000. After four chemoembolizations (sp?) my AFP numbers were 167, and my bilirubens (sp? again) were good. I was turned over to an Oncologist at this point. Maybe they had me counted out, but my treatment was great. My new Doctor prescribed a rather new drug called Sorafenib, which I think goes by the trade nwme Nextofar, but I may be wrong. At any rate after taking 400 MG. twice a day, by mouth, for 25 days my AFP is 46. 0-50 is said to be normal, but my Dotor said that since I already have cancer, she wants to see 4. I do too, so I've started another course of this drug at half strength for another 30 days. Forget what the Doctors say. If you feel good, you are surviving now. Pick up your tools, your treatments and procedures. Decide if you have complete confidence in your team. You're surviving now, so you don't want the thing to increase. Go for a decrease. My lord Jesus is there for you as he is for me. Never give up. God hasn't given up on you. God loves you and I do too.

Sorafenib goes by the trade name Nexavar.