Liver cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in the liver. Many times the cancer starts at another part of the body, like the colon or lung, and spreads to the liver. Other times, the cancer starts in the liver.

Treatment for liver cancer depends on what kind of cancer you have and how far it has spread. You may need surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Another treatment uses different methods—radio waves, freezing, or injecting chemicals directly into the tumor—to kill cancer cells. You may need more than one of kind of treatment. If your cancer cannot be cured, the goal may be to remove or destroy as much of the tumor as possible. This can prevent cancer from growing, spreading, or returning for as long as possible.

Treatment with chemotherapy or radiation can make you feel very tired and sick to your stomach and may cause diarrhea. It also can make your immune system weaker. This can raise your risk of infection.

Finding out that you have cancer is scary. You may feel many emotions and may need some help coping. Seek out family, friends, and counselors for support. You also can do things at home to make yourself feel better while you go through treatment. Call the American Cancer Society (1-800-227-2345) or visit its website at www.cancer.org for more information.