Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a specific type of chemoembolization that blocks the hepatic artery in order to treat liver cancer. This treatment is known as palliative treatment for HCC, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer. It increases their life span by a few months or years, as the complete cure is not possible, and a transplant is the only option left for the patient.

Max Hospital, India, provides TACE treatment at a very affordable cost.

In TACE treatment, the blood supply to the tumour is blocked by embolization, and chemotherapy is provided to the targeted tumours so that they cannot spread through the blood to the other parts of the patient's body. The process involves supplying chemotherapy drugs to the liver through the hepatic artery and then blocking the artery for the drugs to work. In contrast, the liver keeps getting blood from the portal vein. This treatment shrinks the size of the tumour and can extend the life of the patient from 10 to 14 months.

Symptoms of HCC include:

• Enlarged liver
• Jaundice
• Esophageal variceal bleeding,
• A build-up of fluid near the lower abdomen area
• Fever
• Detection of Hepatitis B or C
• Unexplained weight loss in patients
• Excessive drinking
• Cirrhosis in the Abdominal liver pain
• Underlying portal hypertension
• Wilson's disease

Medical Tests and Diagnosis

Before prescribing TACE, a team of doctors, which might include surgeons, liver specialists, oncologists, and interventional radiologists, will review the condition of the patient and conduct tests like:

• A review of the patient's medical and family history for diseases.
• 2D echo ultrasound and ECG
• CT and MRI scans of the abdomen
• Laboratory tests on the blood samples provided by the patient
• Doctors may recommend some Chemotherapy drugs, depending on the tests and the angiography report.

Pre-Surgery Precautions and Post-Surgery Recovery

Before the Surgery

• Provide antibiotics.
• Start intravenous infusion
• Signature and permission of family in consent forms.

After Surgery

The doctor will provide medications for pain, nausea, and complete rest while advising patients to switch to a healthy lifestyle post-surgery. Antibiotics will continue for the patient for up to 8 hours to decrease the chances of infection. Many directives and regular checkups have to be attended by the patient, where the doctor will check the condition of the patient regularly. After a month, a CT scan will be performed to check the size of the tumour if needed. The treatment of TACE will continue until the tumour has subsided.