Liver Cancer

Liver Cancer Care at UVM Cancer Center

Liver cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in the liver and form a tumor. The liver plays a vital role in digestion, energy storage and removing toxins from the body. Liver cancer typically develops slowly and most often occurs in people who already have long-term liver disease.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the region’s leading cancer programs in the region, we offer:

Expert, multidisciplinary team: Your care is delivered by a collaborative group of specialists — including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists — who work together to design a personalized treatment plan.
Advanced treatment options: We were the first program in Vermont to offer stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which delivers precise radiation in fewer treatment sessions. Our robust genetic testing capabilities help identify therapies tailored to the biology of your cancer.
Patient-first philosophy: We create a treatment plan that reflects your needs and goals. Supportive services such as cancer rehabilitation, mental health counseling and integrative therapies (like yoga and acupuncture) are available to help promote comfort and well-being throughout treatment.

Types of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is grouped based on where it begins.

Primary Liver Cancer

Primary liver cancer starts in the liver itself. The main types include:

Hepatocellular carcinoma: The most common liver cancer in adults
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Starts in the bile ducts inside the liver
Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma: Rare cancers that begin in blood vessels of the liver
Hepatoblastoma: A rare liver cancer that typically affects young children

Secondary Liver Cancer

Also called metastatic liver cancer, this type occurs when cancer spreads to the liver from another part of the body. It most commonly originates in the colon, lung or breast. Treatment is usually based on the original cancer type.

Symptoms of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages. As the disease progresses, symptoms can include:

Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen
Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
Feeling full quickly after eating
Nausea or vomiting
Weakness or fatigue
Abdominal swelling from fluid buildup
Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
Dark urine or pale stools

These symptoms can also be caused by other liver conditions. Contact your clinician if symptoms persist or worsen.

Diagnosing Liver Cancer

Your provider will review your symptoms, health history, lab and imaging tests.

Diagnostic tests may include:

Blood tests: To check liver function and tumor markers
Imaging studies: Such as ultrasound, CT scan or MRI to look for tumors
Biopsy: Removing a small tissue sample to confirm diagnosis

People with chronic liver disease may undergo regular screening to detect liver cancer early, before symptoms appear.

Cancer Care

Clinical Trials

The UVM Cancer Center supports more than 100 active clinical trials focused on prevention, screening, treatment, supportive care and survivorship.

View open trials

Liver Cancer Treatment

Treatment depends on the size and number of tumors, how well the liver is functioning, your overall health and whether the cancer has spread. Treatment options may include:

Surgery: Removing part of the liver that contains the tumor, when liver function is strong enough
Chemotherapy: Medications to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells or ease symptoms
Ablation therapies: Treatments that destroy cancer cells using heat, cold or alcohol
Immunotherapy: Helps the immune system better recognize and attack cancer cells
Targeted drug therapy: Also called precision medicine, targeted drug therapy uses tumor-specific markers to attack cancer cells or slow their growth
Liver transplant: For select patients with early-stage cancer and severe liver disease
Supportive & integrative care: We take a whole-person approach to care, offering cancer rehabilitation, mental health counseling and integrative therapies like yoga and acupuncture

Your care team will work closely with you to create a treatment plan that reflects your needs, supports your well-being and helps manage your symptoms effectively.