Liver Cancer

Liver cancers are some of the most common cancers in the world

Liver, biliary and pancreatic cancers, are among the most challenging cancers to treat.

The liver disease program at Nebraska Medicine brings together expert surgeons, researchers, nurses and other medical professionals to provide patients with innovative treatment options for all liver diseases, including cancer and hepatitis.

Our team offers the most advanced treatment options, sees the most complex and rare cases, and can perform the most aggressive surgeries safely and successfully.

We are also home to one of the most active and prominent liver transplant centers, in the event a liver transplant ultimately is the best option for you.

Why come to Nebraska Medicine?

Your team consists of a variety of experts from different areas

The team at Nebraska Medicine includes a talented and experienced team who are dedicated to the treatment of liver cancer and tumors.

The team of specialists includes; medical oncologists, hepatologists, radiologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and interventional radiologists who will formulate a very thoughtful, individualized and comprehensive treatment plan. Cases are reviewed at our weekly tumor board prior to your first appointment.

To help make your experience a little less stressful, we will also work with you to schedule as many appointments as possible during a single visit to our clinic so you can relax in one room while our doctors and other specialists on the team come to you.

National liver cancer experts with significant experience treating rare liver cancers

Our program features nationally renowned experts and state-of-the-art services to provide care for the most complex liver cancers.

Our doctors are also involved in ground-breaking research and clinical trials in the treatment of liver disease, cancer and hepatitis.

We see some of the most advanced and complex liver disease patients in the area, and in many cases, patients come to us because we can provide them options that don’t exist elsewhere.

Backing these cutting-edge treatments is a very experienced staff, some of whom have been with the program for more than 25 years.

Leaders in ground-breaking surgery

Patients who come to Nebraska Medicine have access to some of the most advanced treatment options available for the treatment of liver cancer. Some are not offered anywhere else in the area, many of which have been championed here.

Our liver cancer specialists work with experienced medical teams in hematology and oncology to bring you innovative and highly-specialized procedures to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

The liver’s impressive ability to regenerate led to a unique surgical procedure performed for the first time at Nebraska Medicine, which employs a two-staged approach to removing liver cancer tumors.

During this process, the surgeon removes all the tumors in one lobe of the liver, and then allows the lobe to regenerate for six to twelve weeks before removing the other lobe.

Other innovative surgical advancements include the use of less-invasive laparoscopic surgery for liver resections and portal vein embolization, a procedure where blood supply to one side of the liver is blocked to encourage the other side to grow and regenerate.

Specialty clinics to provide the most specialized care

At Nebraska Medicine, you will benefit from our specialty liver cancer clinic for metastatic carcinoid and other neuroendocrine tumors. These are tumors that are difficult to diagnose and treat.

Our Neuroendocrine Clinic sees patients from across the country. During your visit, you will meet doctors with a variety of specialties who will provide input from the surgical, internal medicine and medical oncology perspectives to ensure the most customized and successful treatment plan for you.

All patients undergoing cancer treatment with Nebraska Medicine have access to our Infusion Center at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, which serves as a treatment center and urgent-care-type facility for those battling cancer.

Types of liver cancers:

• Angiosarcoma - Also known as hemangiosarcoma
• Cholangiocarcinoma - Also known as bile duct cancer.
• Fibrolamellar HCC
• Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) - Also known as hepatoma.
• Metastatic to Liver Cancer - Many of these come from a primary colorectal cancer.

Click Here to learn more about liver cancer and tumors.

A range of treatment options

Established in 1985, our liver transplant program consistently achieves better outcomes nationally and performs more successful high-risk liver transplants than almost any other program in the nation.

Nebraska Medicine offers patients a full spectrum of treatment options to secure the best outcomes for patients with both primary and metastatic liver cancer.

Your treatment plan may include a combination of medical therapies, radiation, chemotherapy, laparoscopic liver resection, ablative therapies such as chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation and radioembolization, interventional radiology, or even a liver transplant. This allows our doctors to choose the best possible treatment combination for each individual patient. 

Less painful, more accurate diagnostic techniques

The liver program uses state of the art diagnostics and imaging, including endoscopy enabling doctors to obtain an accurate diagnosis more rapidly and with less pain and discomfort to you. An ultrasound performed by skilled operators in our high volume center can detect liver cancers as small as 1 to 2 cm. In some cases guided liver biopsy may still be needed.

Addressing your personal care needs

Addressing a patient’s physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs are important aspects of providing a more complete and holistic approach to care. A host of amenities and supportive services are available to help meet these needs. This includes personal care services such as wig fittings, prosthetic and bra fittings, yoga, massage therapy, skin care and make-up lessons specifically geared for people recovering from cancer.

Cancer support services

Finding out that you have cancer can be a very emotional and difficult time. You will likely have many questions, we will be with you every step of the way. Nebraska Medicine offers a host of cancer support services to help you with your physical, emotional, educational and financial needs.

We're here for you long after your treatment

Our Survivorship Clinic is designed to help you deal with the emotional and physical challenges cancer can leave behind such as fear of recurrence, physical and medical long-term side effects and helping you return to a normal life again. It will also help you transition back into the care of your primary care physician.