ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cause of all malignancies and causes approximately one million deaths each year. Surgical liver resection is the only cure for HCC; however, few patients are eligible to undergo this procedure. Hepatic artery chemoembolization (HACE) is a technique that delivers high concentrations of chemotherapeutic agents and blocks the blood supply to the liver for prolonged periods of time. HACE has demonstrated an overall increase in survival. The HACE procedure, pre- and postprocedure complications, and the care required by patients with HCC are critical for oncology nurses to understand.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy , Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/nursing , Hepatic Artery , Liver Neoplasms/therapy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/nursing , Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/adverse effects , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/nursing , Patient Education as TopicSubject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Mass Screening/methods , Age Factors , Barium Sulfate , Colonoscopy , Colorectal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Colorectal Neoplasms/etiology , Contrast Media , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Enema , Humans , Information Services , Internet , Life Style , Mass Screening/economics , Mass Screening/standards , Occult Blood , Patient Selection , Physical Examination , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Rectum , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sigmoidoscopy , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. In the United States, the incidence of HCC has increased by nearly 75% since the 1980s. The rise in HCC diagnoses in the United States has been attributed to an increased number of patients infected with viral hepatitis and better diagnostic techniques. The management of HCC begins with diagnostic confirmation, followed by accurate staging. Historically, the prognosis for patients with HCC has been poor; however, improved surveillance and radiologic imaging techniques have led to earlier detection of HCC and an increased opportunity to treat patients. Treatment options for HCC include surgical and nonsurgical modalities. Surgical therapy, by way of partial hepatectomy or orthotopic liver transplantation, is the only potentially curative treatment for HCC, but most patients are not eligible for these procedures by the time of diagnosis. Palliative options include ablative techniques, radiation, and systemic therapies. As the incidence of this malignancy continues to rise, oncology nurses, who are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team caring for these patients, must be aware of current management for HCC. This article will provide an overview of the complex management of patients with HCC in the United States.
