Answer:

Metastatic liver cancer is an advanced stage of the disease, where cancer cells have spread beyond the liver to other organs like the lungs, bones, brain, or lymph nodes. Life expectancy depends on several factors:

The location of metastasis: Liver cancer can spread to various organs. Lung metastasis is most common, causing symptoms like coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and pleural effusion. Bone metastasis causes pain, fractures, and significantly impacts quality of life. Brain metastasis has a poor prognosis, leading to seizures, neurological disorders, paralysis, and coma. Treatment plans vary depending on the metastasis location.

Physical condition: Patients in good physical condition, without exhaustion or serious comorbidities like heart failure, kidney failure, or uncontrolled diabetes, tend to respond better to treatment, experience fewer complications, and recover faster. Conversely, weakened patients with significant weight loss, appetite loss, metabolic disorders, or a low ECOG performance status (≥ 2) may not tolerate aggressive treatments like chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Emotional well-being and family support can improve both quality of life and treatment effectiveness.

Treatment response: This is crucial for the prognosis of metastatic liver cancer. The response depends on factors like tumor characteristics and growth rate, related gene mutations such as TP53 and CTNNB1, remaining liver function, overall health, and drug tolerance.

A doctor performs an ultrasound examination of a patient's liver. Photo illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

While metastatic liver cancer is not curable, patients can live stable lives for extended periods with appropriate treatment and comprehensive care. Adhering to the treatment plan, maintaining perseverance, and close collaboration with the doctor are essential. Regular health monitoring, including liver function tests, tumor marker checks, and imaging scans, are crucial for assessing treatment effectiveness and detecting complications early.

Nguyen Thanh Trung, MSc, MD

Oncology Department

Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi