Life expectancy | End-stage liver cancer

Life expectancy

Life expectancy in liver cancer is strongly dependent on the stage and concomitant diseases. In general, the prognosis for liver cancer is rather poor despite many therapy options. Not only does the tumor in the liver cause discomfort, but the loss of liver function that almost always accompanies it greatly reduces the remaining life expectancy.Even mid-stage liver cancer, for which many treatment options are still available, has a median survival time of approximately 12 – 18 months. End-stage liver cancer, in which the cancer and the decay of the liver have progressed to the point where only palliative therapy is possible, has a median survival of only about three months.

Course of the final stage

The course of the final stage is very individual and basically depends on further diseases and life circumstances. In frequent cases, the affected persons fall into a so-called liver coma in the final stage. This is a further consequence of the loss of liver function.

In addition to many other products, the liver in a healthy state also breaks down the protein ammonia, which is otherwise toxic for the body and especially for the brain. If this detoxification process of the liver is lost, more and more potentially toxic metabolic products accumulate in the body, including ammonia, which gradually leads to brain damage. At the beginning, this initially manifests itself through lack of concentration and increasing fatigue, and over time confusion and severe attention deficit disorders often follow. In the end, unconsciousness finally sets in, which leads to a coma.

What can be done about the symptoms in the final stage?

In the final stage of cancer, palliative therapy with the guiding principle of so-called “best supportive care” is always the main focus. This means that the underlying disease is not treated further or attempted to stop, but only the symptoms and complaints of the patient are alleviated. In the case of liver cancer, pain and nausea are the most important factors. In addition, drug therapy of itching and slowly progressing liver coma may be necessary. In addition to drug therapy of the symptoms, palliative therapy always includes psycho-oncological care or pastoral care.