Radiation can be helpful in treating:
- Liver cancer that cannot be removed by surgery
- Liver cancer that cannot be treated with ablation or embolization or did not respond well to those treatments
- Liver cancer that has spread to other areas such as the brain or bones
- People with pain because of large liver cancers
- People with a tumor thrombus (a collection of liver cancer cells) blocking the portal vein.
Some of the more common side effects of radiation therapy include:
- Skin changes in areas getting radiation, ranging from redness to blistering and peeling
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- These effects typically go away within a few weeks after treatment ends.
- A more serious side effect of radiation therapy to the liver is radiation-induced liver disease (RILD). It commonly happens 3 to 4 months after treatment and usually only lasts a set time but can be fatal in some instances. Signs and symptoms seen with RILD can include abnormal blood liver tests, an enlarged liver and spleen, ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen), and jaundice.
Ask your doctor what side effects to expect and how to prevent or relieve them.