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Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Days In Hospital 3 days
- Outside Hospital Stay 30 days
- Success Rate %
Minimum Cost
$ 4000
Maximum Cost.
$ 5000
Overview of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in India
Cancer cells are abnormal cells that can reproduce uncontrollably. When cancer results in liver cancer, it is caused by uncontrollable division of the cells in the liver. Over the last 30 years, the diagnosis of liver cancer has increased almost 300% and it is currently considered the 6th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. In India, the incidence rate for men is 4-7.5 per 100,000 people per year and the rate of occurrence for women is 1.2-2.2 per 100,000 people per year.
The most prevalent form of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma. This type of liver cancer arises from liver cells, also known as hepatocytes, and often occurs in patients who have chronic liver disease as noted in cirrhosis caused by Hepatitis B or C infections.
When liver disease or something else alters normal cellular activity, the altered liver cells proliferate abnormally and create a lump (tumor/organism) that displaces normal liver cells. The displaced liver cells may invade adjacent blood vessels and develop the capacity to travel to other parts of the body.
What Is Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)?
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. It moves fast and usually shows up in people who already have serious liver problems, like cirrhosis. Lately, more people with HCC have another liver issue called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, which sometimes leads to cirrhosis, too.
At first, HCC grows pretty slowly. If doctors catch it early, they can try surgery to remove the tumour or even go for a liver transplant. The problem is, most people don’t find out they have HCC until it’s already getting aggressive and starting to spread. When it gets to that point, it can cause liver failure and it becomes tough for doctors to treat.
If you’ve got cirrhosis or MASLD, don’t skip your regular screenings—catching HCC early makes a big difference.
Types of Hepatocellular Carcinoma:
Procedure:
No two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are exactly alike. That’s why at Max Hospitals, our team—hepatologists, surgeons, interventional radiologists, medical oncologists, and radiation physicians—all come together with patients and their families. We don’t just pull a plan off the shelf. Instead, we build a treatment strategy around each person, thinking about things like how far the disease has spread, how well the liver’s working, the patient’s overall health, and what matters most to them. This teamwork helps us target the cancer while protecting liver function and making sure life still feels worth living.
Surgery or Transplantation
If someone catches HCC early and their liver’s still healthy, surgery often gives them the best shot at beating it long-term. Surgeons can remove the tumor and some of the healthy tissue around it—a hepatectomy. The liver’s ability to grow back means this approach often works well when the cancer hasn’t spread. Sometimes, though, the liver’s already pretty damaged from cirrhosis. In that case, a liver transplant makes more sense. Swapping out the diseased liver for a healthy donor liver tackles both the tumor and the old liver problems at once. Of course, before surgery or a transplant, we look closely at every patient’s situation to make sure we’re giving them the best odds for recovery.
Targeted Therapies
When surgery isn’t an option, doctors turn to loco-regional targeted treatments to go after the tumour directly. Ablation therapies—like radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA)—use heat to burn away cancer cells. They’re minimally invasive and usually work best for smaller tumours. There’s also tumour embolisation (TACE), where chemotherapy and blocking particles are delivered right into the tumour’s blood supply, basically starving it. For something even more advanced, there’s radioembolization (TARE). This one sends tiny radioactive beads (Yttrium 90) straight into the tumour, hitting it from the inside out. These targeted approaches help keep the disease under control. Sometimes, they even buy time for a liver transplant, or help shrink tumours so more people become eligible for one.
Systemic Treatments
When hepatocellular carcinoma reaches an advanced stage, or if local treatments aren’t possible, doctors look to systemic therapy. These treatments slow down the cancer and help manage symptoms. Systemic therapies block the specific pathways cancer cells use to grow, while immunotherapy pushes your immune system to recognise and fight those cells. Specialists keep a close eye on things to handle side effects and tweak the treatment plan when needed.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy isn’t for everyone, but in certain cases, it can shrink tumours or ease symptoms. Techniques like stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) deliver high doses of radiation right to the tumour, sparing healthy liver tissue. It’s a good option for people who can’t have surgery or ablation, and it can help with pain or reduce the tumour load.
Supportive and Palliative Care
Treating the tumour is just one piece of the puzzle. Managing symptoms really matters, too. Supportive care is all about comfort and quality of life—easing pain, fighting fatigue, making sure nutrition and emotional health don’t slip through the cracks. When the cancer is advanced, palliative care steps in to help patients and families focus on dignity and comfort every step of the way.
Follow-Up and Monitoring
Regular follow-up is key. It helps spot any return of the cancer early and keeps tabs on liver health. This usually means checkups, blood tests like AFP, and scheduled scans. Patients are also encouraged to stick to healthy habits—avoiding alcohol, keeping a steady weight, and managing existing liver issues—to boost recovery and long-term health.
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Cost of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in India
The cost of liver cancer treatment in India ranges from $2700 to $3600 for Indian patients. International patients must pay between USD 4050 and USD 4950.
Cost of Liver Cancer Treatment in Top Cities of India
The pricing breakdown for reasonably priced liver cancer therapy in India's largest cities is shown here. USD conversions are based on current rates and are approximations.
|
City |
Min Cost (USD) |
Max Cost (USD) |
|
New Delhi |
USD 4,323 |
USD 6,628 |
|
Mumbai |
USD 3,746 |
USD 6,916 |
|
Bengaluru |
USD 4,034 |
USD 7,205 |
|
Chennai |
USD 3,746 |
USD 6,916 |
|
Hyderabad |
USD 3,746 |
USD 6,916 |
|
Kolkata |
USD 4,034 |
USD 7,205 |
|
Pune |
USD 2,594 |
USD 5,764 |
|
Chandigarh |
USD 4,323 |
USD 6,916 |
|
Gurugram |
USD 4,323 |
USD 6,916 |
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Indications of Hepatocellular Carcinoma:
Hepatocellular carcinoma usually sneaks up without any obvious symptoms at first, which makes regular checkups really important for anyone at higher risk. The signs, when they do show up, tend to come on slowly and look different for everyone. Spotting them early helps people get diagnosed and treated sooner.
Here’s what to watch for:
Unexplained weight loss. If you’re losing weight and you haven’t changed your eating or exercise habits, something’s probably going on underneath it all.
Losing your appetite or feeling full after just a few bites. Tumors in the liver mess with the way your body digests food.
Constant tiredness or weakness. Even after a good night’s sleep, you might still feel wiped out if your liver isn’t working right.
Pain or discomfort in the upper right part of your belly. As the liver gets bigger, it can press up under your ribs and cause a dull ache.
Swelling in your abdomen (ascites). When the liver struggles, fluid can build up and make your belly puff up.
Jaundice—yellowing of your skin and eyes. This is a classic sign of liver trouble, caused by bilirubin building up in your blood.
Nausea or vomiting. If your liver can’t clear out toxins like it should, you might feel sick to your stomach more often.
Itchy skin. When bile salts build up, they can make your skin itch like crazy.
An enlarged spleen. This usually shows up in more advanced disease and often means there’s extra pressure in the blood vessels around your liver.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosis
The physician reviews your medical history and completes a physical exam, looking for any signs of existing liver problems as well as your symptoms and any swelling or tenderness in your abdomen.
Blood testing can give a measurement of liver function and can test for tumour markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which can indicate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Imaging studies include ultrasound, CT scan and/or MRI, and can assist the physician in evaluating abnormal growths, as well as providing information on the size and location of the abnormal growth. The contrast MRI is frequently considered very sensitive for the identification of HCC.
If necessary, the physician may perform a liver biopsy, which is the removal of a small sample of liver tissue, in order to establish a firm diagnosis.
After a diagnosis of HCC is made, physicians will do additional tests to determine how far it has spread and to help plan treatment for the patient.
Risk Factors:
Although not all persons with an injured liver happen to develop hepatocellular carcinoma, there are factors that may pose a general risk. Early detection and intervention can be achieved through the identification of these factors.
Common risk factors include:
Hepatitis B or C infection: The viral infections have the potential to cause a persistent inflammation of the liver, resulting in scarring and damage to DNA that may result in cancerous growth.
Cirrhosis: This is the condition of scarring of liver tissue, permanently forming an environment where cancer cells have a higher chance of developing.
Genetic liver diseases: Diversity of inherited liver diseases, such as haemochromatosis and Wilson disease, may result in increased accumulation of iron or copper in the liver, which causes chronic damage to the liver and increases the risk of cancer.
Metabolically-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): Gross accumulation of fat in liver cells may lead to inflammation and scarring that can further develop to liver cancer, in case of negligence.
Diabetes: Elevated blood sugar levels may put a strain on the liver, as well as lead to other conditions such as fatty liver disease, indirectly putting a person at risk of developing HCC.
Obesity: Liver fat is closely associated with excess weight in the body and can cause cirrhosis and increase the chances of cancer in the long run.
Aflatoxin exposure: Long-term intake of moulded foods, including grains and nuts subjects the liver to toxins that may result in mutation of the DNA.
Continuous heavy drinking in the long term: With unremitting heavy alcohol consumption, inflammation and cirrhosis may develop, and ultimately liver cancer.
Cigarette smoking: The toxins present in tobacco may cause direct harm to the liver cells or increase the impact of other liver diseases, which is dangerous to the HCC.
Age: As one ages, the risks of getting liver cancer increase, since the exposure to liver damage or other chronic conditions accumulates with age.