09 Dec, 2025
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09 Dec, 2025
This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Alok Modi, Consultant - Medical Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Indore.
A liver cancer diagnosis can change an individual's life significantly, and the impact it can have on the patient's carer and family cannot be ignored either.
During this time, you need a place that gives you more than just medical care. You need a place that gives you clarity, confidence, and compassion.
India is considered one of the best places in the world to get liver cancer treatment due to the availability of skilled doctors, modern facilities, and reasonable prices.
HCG Cancer Centre is one of the best liver cancer hospitals in India, and it is known for providing holistic, technology-driven, and patient-centered care.
This guide talks about liver cancer treatment, the different options available, and what makes HCG stand out in terms of knowledge, technology, and care.
When liver cells start dividing uncontrollably due to undesirable mutations, an abnormal mass is formed, which could be cancerous (liver cancer) or non-cancerous (liver tumor).
Benign liver tumors are usually asymptomatic and do not cause any serious symptoms, and they may not need any treatment. Liver cancer, on the other hand, should be diagnosed and treated without any delays.
Based on the location of the origin, liver cancer is categorized as primary liver cancer and secondary liver cancer.
Primary liver cancer starts in the liver, while secondary liver cancer spreads to the liver from other parts of the body. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which arises from liver cells, is the most common type of liver cancer. Other types, like cholangiocarcinoma, start in the bile ducts.
For primary liver cancer, doctors aim to remove the tumor and control its growth within the organ. This may or may not be followed by other treatments like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or other systemic therapy approaches.
For secondary or liver metastases, treatment typically involves multimodal therapy, which addresses the disease both in the original site and the liver simultaneously.
Carcinogenic mutations in the liver cells lead to liver cancer. Several factors have been found to cause these carcinogenic mutations, and they include:
The above are considered the risk factors or possible causes of liver cancer. Paying attention to these risk factors and devising strategies to manage them are crucial to reducing your liver cancer risk.
Liver cancer staging involves assessing the extent of the disease's spread. The process of staging helps the doctor understand whether the disease is localized to the organ or has begun to spread outside the organ to nearby and distant organs.
The stage of cancer determines the best treatment: resection surgery, liver transplant, or systemic therapies.
Patients with early-stage liver cancer may be able to have liver resection surgery. As the disease progresses, multimodal treatments, involving more than one treatment, may become necessary.
At HCG, staging uses advanced imaging, biopsy, and molecular profiling to help make a unique plan for liver cancer treatment and beyond.
As a leading hospital for liver cancer treatment in India, HCG Cancer Centre takes a methodical approach to liver cancer detection and diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is confirmed and staging is done, doctors will chart out a personalized treatment plan.
When someone has symptoms like pain in the upper abdomen, weight loss, jaundice, and tiredness, they should see a doctor for a detailed evaluation.
First assessment usually involves a physical examination and medical history assessment with the aim of finding out the cause of symptoms.
If initial assessments indicate liver cancer development, additional tests will be recommended.
Ultrasound is usually the first step in diagnosis, followed by CT or MRI scans.
A PET-CT may help confirm the spread of cancer, which can help doctors decide whether to treat liver metastases with medicine or surgery.
Biopsies are often recommended for the conclusive diagnosis of liver cancer.
Carefully collected liver cell samples are tested for molecular markers, which help doctors in deciding which treatment approach is right for each patient. In complicated situations, diagnostic hepatobiliary surgery can help with liver cancer staging.
There are many hospitals that offer comprehensive liver cancer treatment in India, and HCG Cancer Centre is one such hospital. At HCG Cancer Centre, we customize liver cancer management based on the diagnosis, the patient's age and overall health, and their preferences.
The following are the different liver cancer treatment approaches available:
If the tumor is localized to one portion of the liver and the rest of the liver is healthy, the expert team may recommend liver resection surgery, which involves the removal of the diseased portion of the liver.
Liver resection surgery can be done through open or minimally invasive approaches. A minimally invasive approach is considered far more advantageous, as it involves smaller cuts, causes less pain, and supports faster recovery.
At HCG, our expert team recommends both the traditional open surgery and the advanced minimally invasive approach, depending on the individual case parameters. The hospital houses the highly advanced da Vinci (X/Xi) robotic surgery systems in its hubs to facilitate less invasive liver cancer surgery.
The hospital's specialized hepatobiliary surgery team performs very complicated resections, reconstructions, and biliary repairs for both benign and cancerous liver conditions.
Depending on the disease stage, the surgery may be recommended in combination with other treatments in order to improve the overall effectiveness of the treatment.
If a larger portion of the liver is diseased, it has to be removed completely and replaced with a healthy liver. In such cases, the patient will need a liver transplant. A liver transplant is considered the best treatment approach for advanced-stage HCCs and other liver cancers.
HCG Cancer Centre is considered one of the best liver transplantation hospitals in India. The hospital is equipped with a world-class transplantation facility, where patients can undergo liver transplantation for different types of liver cancer.
The expert team at HCG prioritizes both the treatment outcomes and the quality of life after by ensuring that the patient feels safe and comfortable throughout the treatment.
The hospital has comprehensive liver transplantation programs, which not only focus on the procedure but also on life after. The expert team will be there to provide guidelines on post-transplant care, managing side effects associated with the transplant, and tips on how to lead a fulfilling life after the transplant.
When surgery is not a feasible option, doctors recommend interventional radiology procedures for liver cancer treatment, and they include TACE (transarterial chemoembolization), TARE (transarterial radioembolization), and ablation procedures.
Embolization procedures may involve blocking the blood supply to the tumor or delivering chemotherapy or radioactive substances to the tumor to control cancer growth.
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) are commonly recommended embolization procedures. TACE involves administering chemotherapy drugs through small beads or a catheter, and TARE involves delivering radioactive microspheres directly to the tumor.
Ablation is a minimally invasive approach that focuses on killing cancer cells through electric current (radiofrequency ablation), microwaves (Microwave ablation), and extreme cold (cryoablation). These procedures cause fewer complications and minimal pain and improve the quality of life for patients.
At HCG Cancer Centre, we have a dedicated department for interventional radiology, which has IR specialists who have vast experience in administering TACE (chemoembolization), TARE (radioembolization), and microwave or radiofrequency ablation to treat liver masses.
These procedures are guided by images and are very precise, and our specialists ensure that our patients are safe and comfortable throughout these procedures.
Liver cancer treatment with CyberKnife and other radiotherapy platforms is found to improve the health outcomes in some cases.
These procedures involve precisely delivering high doses of focused radiation to the liver tumors while paying special attention to reducing damage to nearby healthy tissues. CyberKnife is found to be particularly effective for liver cancer metastases, where surgery is not a feasible option.
As a well-known radiotherapy hospital in India, HCG houses highly advanced radiotherapy platforms like CyberKnife, Ethos Adaptive Radiation Therapy, Versa HD, TrueBeam, Radixact, etc.
These platforms aid in precise radiation delivery with fewer complications and support better health outcomes.
Chemotherapy for liver cancer involves administering very strong anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. This treatment approach is recommended when the disease is no longer localized just to the organ. It is often combined with other treatments to improve the overall effectiveness of the treatment.
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy are the latest treatment approaches that precisely target the liver cancer cells and attack them to control the disease.
As the best liver cancer hospital in India, HCG also offers palliative and supportive care services to liver cancer patients. These services focus on managing the pain, discomfort, and other complications caused by the disease and its treatment and improving the quality of life for patients.
The cost of liver cancer treatment depends on multiple factors and can vary from one patient to another. The liver cancer treatment cost in India depends on the following factors:
For more information on liver cancer treatment costs in India, please connect with HCG.
At HCG Cancer Centre, we leverage advanced technologies and a multidisciplinary approach to enhance the safety and precision of liver cancer treatments. Our state-of-the-art facilities, including robotic surgery systems, advanced radiotherapy platforms, and interventional radiology capabilities, enable our expert team to deliver highly targeted and effective treatments while minimizing risks and side effects.
The type of surgery and the patient's overall health will determine the recovery duration. Those patients who have liver resection usually go back to their normal activities in four to six weeks.
Patients who undergo a liver transplant should be under supervision for a longer time, and the recovery time for them will be longer.
Eating a balanced diet during liver cancer treatment plays a significant role in maintaining energy levels throughout the treatment.
At HCG, we have highly experienced oncodieticians who provide nutritional counseling for liver cancer patients, supporting better healing and helping them stay energized during their treatment.
Most patients undergoing liver cancer treatment experience mild to moderate side effects. In rare cases, they may also witness severe side effects.
These side effects are usually temporary and wear off some time after the treatment. However, if they do not get better, patients must speak to their expert team for necessary interventions.
Prognosis differs according to stage, liver function, and general health. Early treatment translates to a better prognosis, whereas delayed treatment can negatively impact the disease prognosis.
At HCG, we place a special emphasis on improving the disease prognosis through the combination of personalized treatments, supportive care, and effective post-treatment guidelines.
At HCG, we offer a comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, which involves psychological counseling, physiotherapy, and other supportive services that help patients return to the best state of health possible.
HCG Cancer Centre offers comprehensive liver cancer management, which includes everything from liver cancer diagnosis to liver resection surgery and hepatocellular carcinoma liver transplants to targeted therapy. This helps patients receive complete care in one place.
At HCG, we have some of the best liver cancer specialists in India who have specialized expertise in managing different types of liver cancer with individualized treatment approaches.
A multidisciplinary team looks at each case to figure out the best treatment, whether it's for HCC, bile duct cancer, or liver metastases. Personalizing liver cancer treatment helps in improving the treatment outcomes and survival rates for patients.
Our specialists at HCG focus on preserving and improving the quality of life for liver cancer patients during and after the treatment. The patient's safety and preferences are given importance when the treatment plan is created.
A liver cancer diagnosis can be severely distressing; however, you are not alone. At HCG, we offer 360-degree liver cancer management programs, which also include liver transplantation for cancer and liver metastases management.
To get started, please connect with HCG's team through the website, phone, or mobile app, HCG Care. A coordinator will put you in touch with one of our liver cancer specialists who will help you figure out your options, plan your treatment, and start your recovery with confidence.
At HCG Cancer Centre, we bring advanced science and empathic care together to deliver the highest quality care and support.
To get in touch with the best liver cancer specialist in India, please get in touch with HCG today.
Dr. Alok Modi
MBBS, MD (Medicine)
Consultant – Medical Oncology
Dr. Alok Modi is one of Indore's most senior medical oncologists and has over three decades of experience. He is available for consultations at HCG Cancer Centre, a top-ranking cancer hospital in Indore. He specializes in the management of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. He is trained at prestigious global medical institutes, namely the Mayo Clinic (USA) and the Lacassagne Cancer Centre (France). Driven by a belief in preventative care, Dr. Modi has helped his patients improve their health and well-being by fostering a culture of healthy living.
Appointment Link: Book an Appointment with Dr. Alok Modi.
