What are the benefits and risks of interventional therapy for liver cancer?
Disease description:
A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with liver cancer and has been undergoing conservative treatment. Now, he is considering interventional therapy. What are the pros and cons of interventional therapy for liver cancer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Jiang Chenggang
As a non-surgical method for treating liver cancer, interventional therapy for liver cancer has its unique advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
1. Definite therapeutic effect: Interventional therapy can significantly reduce AFP levels and shrink tumors, especially effective for patients with advanced liver cancer.
2. Minimal trauma: It does not require general anesthesia and causes minimal harm to the patient, facilitating recovery.
3. Wide applicability: It can be used for elderly or frail patients who cannot tolerate surgery.
4. Repeatable treatment: For patients with incomplete treatment or recurrence, interventional therapy can be performed multiple times.
Disadvantages:
1. Technical difficulty: As liver cancer often grows deep within the body, interventional therapy may encounter significant technical challenges.
2. Potential liver damage: Catheterization into the liver during the procedure may cause liver injury.
3. Risk of complications: Complications such as bleeding and infection may occur after the procedure.
