Liver cancer is a relatively common cancer in South Texas. The reason for the increase in cases is not readily apparent.
UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center houses a unique multidisciplinary clinic, the Texas Liver Tumor Center. The Texas Liver Tumor Center was formed as a partnership between University Health System, UT Health San Antonio and Texas Liver Institute, with the intent of creating a unique, advanced healthcare system to treat a wide variety of liver tumors.
The Liver Tumor Center team is comprised of our highly experienced and knowledgeable staff including:
Our multidisciplinary liver cancer team offers screening, treatment and counseling regarding all options. For additional information visit the Texas Liver Tumor Center's website.
We are the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Central and South Texas. The cancer center offers care delivered by teams specializing in all phases of clinical trials. Clinical trials are available for patients who have just been diagnosed and never been treated. Clinical trials are also available for patients who have had prior treatments.
The cancer center offers experimental treatments and first-in-human clinical trials under special programs for patients who qualify.
To request an appointment with our team or to make a referral to one of our physicians, please call the main number: 210-743-4306 or 1-888-336-9633 or email LiverTumorCenter@uhs-sa.com.
How is liver cancer diagnosed?
Liver cancer can be a silent cancer. Tests are necessary to confirm a diagnosis.
Tests, including blood tests, CT scans and other imaging scans will be performed to determine the extent of disease. This is called staging. The stage of cancer and the assessment of liver function determines the ideal primary treatment.
Our liver cancer experts will discuss treatment options at one appointment:
When the liver is damaged, the normal tissue is replaced with collagen which is called fibrosis. Fibrosis is given a staging system, generally with fibrosis stage 4 is cirrhosis of the liver. The presence of stage 3 or 4 fibrosis is one of the main risk factors for the development of primary liver cancer. However, secondary liver cancers, or those that spread to the liver from other sites, often occur in completely healthy livers.
Most damage to the liver comes from: