TACE for Liver Cancer in Delhi

·        TACE is recommended for the treatment of intermediate stage (larger than 3 cm or more than 5 lesions) of Liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC).

·        Liver cancer (HCC) is graded as early stage, intermediate stage and advanced stage. For early stage liver cancer surgical excision is often used. However large majority of liver cancer patients have intermediate or advanced stage of the cancer. These patients are often treated with TACE or TARE

·        TACE is minimally invasive targeted treatment, which basically involves precise delivery of anti-cancer medicines right into the tumor. TACE is done via angiography i.e. a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel (usually in the groin) and the same catheter is guided towards the liver under the guidance of X rays in an angiography suite. Once the catheter reaches the liver it is further guided to the blood vessel supplying the tumor. Now the catheter is precisely in the blood vessel which is supplying the tumor. Now chemotherapeutic medication and embolic particles are injected into the catheter as to deliver them precisely into the tumor. The entire process is done under local anesthesia and takes about 1 hour.

·        After the TACE is performed patient is shifted back to their room. Fluids and food can usually be given to the patient after few hours of the procedure. Post procedure patients may experience mild pain or discomfort or fever. These are usually treated by symptomatic treatment and patients are usually discharged 3 days after the procedure. 

·        One month after TACE some blood tests and a Imaging scan are done (Contrast CT scan or MRI scan) to assess the results of the treatment. 

FAQs

·        Are there any serious side effects of TACE?

TACE is well tolerated by the patients and most patients experience only mild side effects like nausea, vomiting, mild pain or fever. Rarely patients may get jaundice or infection which may need prolonged hospital stay

·        What precautions are to be observed after TACE?

The puncture site is monitored after the procedure for any bleeding or hematoma formation. If the puncture site is groin, patients have to stay in the bed with the leg to be kept straight for 6 to 8 hours. If the puncture site is wrist, patients can walk right after the treatment.

·        Is TACE a one-time treatment or it needs multiple cycles of treatment?

TACE is commonly a one-time treatment. However, if new tumors arise in the liver it can be repeated many time 

·        TACE a curative treatment of a palliative treatment?

TACE if combined with RFA (Radiofrequency ablation) or microwave ablation is often curative treatment. Besides TACE is commonly performed before Liver Transplant to help reduce the chances of cancer recurrence after the liver transplant. In other cases it is used to downstage the cancer and improve the patient survival. 

·        Who can help me learn more about this TACE treatment?

You may consults a nearby Interventional Radiologist and learn more about this procedure