Treatment of liver cancer in Israel

If you or your family has been diagnosed with liver cancer, or you have already received treatment, but it did not bring a sufficient effect, and you need help, Isramedic Coordination Centre can organize the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer in Israel by leading experts of our country.

Treatment of liver cancer engaged following experts:

Surgeons-hepatologists:

• Dr. Tal Ben Haim – head of department of surgery at Ichilov (Sourasky) Medical Center.
• Dr. Yevgeny Solomonov – head of department of surgery at Rabin Hospital.
• Dr. Franklin Greif – head of department of general surgery at Beilinson Hospital.
• Professor Ariel Halevy – head of department of Surgery at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center.
• Dr. Arie Arish – head of department of surgery at Sheba Hospital.

Oncologists-therapists:

• Dr. Ella Tepper - senior oncologist at Assuta Hospital.
• Professor Dan Aderka – head of department of oncology at Sheba Hospital.

Hepatologists:

• Professor Ziv Ben Ari – head of department of hepatology at Sheba Hospital.
• Professor Oren Shibolet – head of hepatology department at Ichilov Medical Center

Diagnosis in the treatment of liver cancer in Israel

To determine the stage and location of the tumor and chose correct treatment protocol are used these diagnostic procedures:

• Blood tests - a detailed biochemical and common clinical tests for tumor markers;
• Liver biopsy with histopathology;
• Review of biopsy;
• PET-CT;
• MRI of the abdomen;
• Ultrasound of the liver;
• Genetic testing (to determine the appropriate treatment protocol);
• Oncologist consultation;
• Surgeon consultation;
• Hepatologist consultation.

The duration of the survey usually takes between six to fourteen days. Howeverwe help to organize  diagnostic and therapeutic preparation of the program within four to five working days.

Treatment of liver cancer in Israel - methods

The treatment protocol selected our specialists for each patient, depending on his general condition, presence of concomitant diseases, developmental stage and localization of malignancy.

In most cases is diagnosed secondary liver cancer, it penetrates into the chamber of the other organs. Secondary cancer treatment begins with the underlying disease.

Surgical treatment can be performed if the size of the tumor is small (five centimeters) and has not spread outside the liver.

The operation can be of two types:

• Lobectomy means excision of one share body.
• Hemihepatectomy means excision of half of the body.

The cost of operations in Israel is from $ 30 000

Due to the high ability of the liver to regenerate tissue, its growth is restored even after the removal of 75% of the organ.

There are certain techniques of surgery, conducted by our experts, in which the regeneration process is accelerated by 30-50%. This is important in the case of the removal of secondary tumors in different parts of the liver when it is necessary to eliminate the disease as quickly as possible to operate both shares.

In the 2-3 stage usually involves the use of chemotherapy, which aims to minimize the size of tumors. This makes it possible to perform surgery.

At the third stage the operation is carried out with the aim of reducing the size of the tumor and intoxication. Chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into the hepatic artery, so as not to adversely affect the healthy organs. Also, chemotherapy is used after surgery to reduce the chance of relapse.

The price of one course of chemotherapy begins from $ 3500.

If it is not possible to carry out surgery, are used the following methods:

• Radiation therapy. It is not very widely used in case of liver cancer, but can be used in the palliative purposes in combination with chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy - immunotherapy involves taking drugs that are aimed at slowing the growth of malignancy.

Recovery after treatment will be faster using a special drug and non-drug means to improve blood parameters.

The course fee of immunotherapy is 5000$

Thermal or radiofrequency ablation means the destruction of cancer cells via the high-frequency current. It is appointed in cases when radiation and chemotherapy did not give the desired effect. It has no side effects and may be carried out repeatedly, in the case of new lesions. This method may be less effective than chemotherapy or surgery.

Price begins from $ 25 000.

Sometimes radiofrequency ablation may be used in conjunction with the operation if it is necessary to remove the remaining liver metastases lobe.

Treatment of liver cancer in Israel in the fourth stage is aimed at alleviating the pain and stopping tumor growth. For this purpose, such methods may be used:

• Chemotherapy
• Chemoembolization or radioembolization helps to block blood vessels that feed cancerous tumor and metastases. The cost is about $ 17,000.
• Directional radiation SIRT therapy means the introduction of particles containing a radioactive substance directly into the intrahepatic artery, from where they enter the liver and the tumor. The radiation source is activated only within the tumor and does not affect healthy tissues. It is applied at the late, inoperable stages of the disease. The cost of such treatment begins from $ 75,000.

Prices for the treatment of liver cancer in Israel