Chen Baiyue, a gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary physician at Chiayi Christian Hospital, shares treatment methods for advanced liver cancer. (Taken from the post)
"After entering the era of immunotherapy, there have been many clinical success stories that were unimaginable in the past. There was once a 50-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer. The tumor not only grew in the liver, but had even metastasized to the adrenal gland." Chen Baiyue, a gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary physician at Chiayi Christian Hospital, said, "In the past, when oral targeted drugs could only be relied on, the median survival period of such patients was only about 6 to 9 years. Months later, treatment options were extremely limited. However, after this patient received "dual immunotherapy", the tumor that had originally metastasized to the adrenal gland completely disappeared, the liver tumor also disappeared, and the liver cancer index returned to normal. "
Chen Baiyue emphasized that dual immunotherapy allows advanced liver cancer to no longer just "control" the disease, but even has the opportunity to "reverse" the course of the disease from the late stage to the early stage where surgical resection is possible. According to clinical observations, about 20% of patients who receive dual immunotherapy will have their tumors shrink significantly, and may even shrink to the point where they are completely invisible.
Dual immunotherapy uses immunosuppression to eliminate liver cancer cells and is less likely to cause damage to liver function, leaving confidence for long-term resistance.
According to the 112-year cancer registration report, approximately 7,677 people are diagnosed with liver cancer in Taiwan every year, and up to 30% of these patients are in the late or terminal stage when diagnosed. The prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Taiwan, as well as the rising proportion of fatty liver and alcoholic liver disease, are all risk factors. The so-called advanced liver cancer refers to tumors that are too large, invade important blood vessels, or have distant metastasis. At this time, the patient's liver function is usually poor. If traditional chemotherapy or targeted drugs are used, the side effects or liver function damage are often excessive, making continuous treatment impossible.
Nowadays, the emergence of "dual immunotherapy" gives medical teams a treatment option that is "less prone to side effects of liver damage" and also helps patients gain confidence in their long-term fight against cancer. Chen Baiyue explained that dual immunotherapy combines two immune checkpoint inhibitors to "activate the body's own immune system, allowing immune cells to re-identify and attack liver cancer cells." Unlike traditional drugs that directly kill cancer cells, although past targeted drugs can shrink tumors, they can also easily cause liver damage, causing patients to lose the opportunity to receive second-line treatment. Dual immunotherapy has the opportunity to maintain liver stability while fighting tumors, helping patients continue to fight cancer. The course of treatment is relatively simple and can be administered intravenously through outpatient drip, without the need to install artificial blood vessels. In order to ensure efficacy and safety, the medical team will routinely draw blood to evaluate changes in liver function.
In terms of safety, common side effects include skin itching, rash, diarrhea, or endocrine gland disorders. Most patients tolerate it well unless they have a severe autoimmune disease (such as lupus) or have received an organ transplant.
Dual immunotherapy uses a combination of two immune checkpoint inhibitors to "activate the body's own immune system, allowing immune cells to re-recognize and attack liver cancer cells." (Taken from the post)
Dual immunotherapy for advanced liver cancer is covered by health insurance!
In order to reduce the financial burden on patients, dual immunotherapy has been included in health insurance benefits as one of the treatment options for advanced liver cancer. Chen Boyue reminded that even if the two-year health insurance benefit expires and the drug needs to be stopped, if the tumor relapses later and becomes a small tumor, there is still a chance to use curative therapies such as electrocautery or surgery. Patients should maintain confidence, fully communicate with the medical team, and choose the treatment strategy that best suits them.
Organize notes in key points
●The so-called advanced liver cancer refers to tumors that are too large, invade important blood vessels, or have distant metastasis. At this time, the patient's liver function is usually poor. If traditional chemotherapy or targeted drugs are used, the side effects or liver function damage are often excessive, making continuous treatment impossible.
●Dual immunotherapy uses a combination of two immune checkpoint inhibitors to "activate the body's own immune system, allowing immune cells to re-recognize and attack liver cancer cells", which is different from traditional drugs that directly kill cancer cells.
●The biggest advantage of dual immunotherapy is that it is "less likely to cause side effects of liver damage." Although targeted drugs in the past can shrink tumors, they can also easily cause liver damage, causing patients to lose the opportunity to receive second-line treatment. Dual immunotherapy has the opportunity to maintain liver stability while fighting tumors, helping patients continue to fight cancer.
●Double immunotherapy has the opportunity to "reverse" the course of the disease and shrink it from the late stage to the early stage where surgical resection is acceptable.
This article is reprinted with permission from [Care Online] Don’t give up on advanced liver cancer! "Double immunotherapy" paid by health insurance can help "reverse" the course of the disease, a lazy guide with pictures and texts by specialists
