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Facing a liver cancer diagnosis?
Have board-certified surgical oncologist Dr. Murtaza Shakir review your imaging and options in Katy or Sugar Land. Call (713) 955-9191, or send your details and our team will call you back.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Yes, liver cancer can be removed with surgery in some patients, usually when the cancer is limited to the liver, the tumor can be taken out completely and enough healthy liver will remain to keep working. Surgery offers the best chance of long-term control or cure in these select cases. When it is not possible, ablation, embolization, drug therapy or radiation may still control the cancer.
What Is Liver Cancer, and Why Does the Type Matter?
Liver cancer is a tumor formed when abnormal cells in the liver grow out of control, and its type shapes which treatments are possible. Surgeons separate two broad groups:
- Primary liver cancer starts in the liver itself. The most common type in adults is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which often develops in people who already have chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or other long-term liver damage.
- Metastatic liver cancer starts in another organ, such as the colon, and spreads to the liver. It is treated according to where it began.
Liver cancer may cause abdominal pain or discomfort, a lump or pain on the right side of the belly, ongoing fatigue, unexplained weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) and swelling of the abdomen. Early-stage liver cancer, however, often causes few or no symptoms, so it can develop silently and is hard to find without regular medical monitoring. That is why routine screening is encouraged for high-risk people, especially those with chronic liver disease: finding the cancer earlier opens up more treatment options and improves outcomes. Read more about early warning signs of liver cancer.
Can Liver Cancer Be Removed With Surgery?
Yes, in certain patients. Surgical removal offers the best chance for long-term control or cure, especially when the cancer is found early and has not spread beyond the liver.
Surgery is recommended only when the tumor can be removed safely while leaving enough healthy liver tissue to keep the body working normally. The liver handles digestion, clotting, blood sugar and the clearing of toxins, so a surgeon never plans an operation that would leave too little working liver behind. Whether that balance is possible depends on the tumor’s size, location and number, the health of the remaining liver and your overall medical condition.
Because so many factors interact, these decisions are usually made by a multidisciplinary team that may include surgeons, liver specialists, medical oncologists, radiologists and interventional radiologists. Learn how this works in surgical oncology.
How Do Surgeons Decide Whether a Liver Tumor Can Be Removed?
Surgeons decide by asking two questions: can the whole tumor come out, and will what is left be enough liver for you to recover? Answering them means looking at the cancer, the liver and the patient together.
- The tumor: how large it is, how many tumors there are and whether it has grown into major blood vessels. The American Cancer Society notes that resection generally suits a single tumor that has not grown into blood vessels.
- Spread: whether there is any sign of cancer outside the liver.
- Liver function: blood tests and imaging show how well the rest of the liver works. Many patients with HCC also have cirrhosis, and surgeons often use the Child-Pugh score to grade it. Patients in class A are most likely to be candidates for resection, class B less likely, and class C usually not.
- Overall health: heart and lung health, other medical conditions and whether you can tolerate a major operation.
CT or MRI scans are used to judge whether a tumor is resectable, but occasionally a cancer turns out to be larger or more widespread during surgery than imaging suggested. Some tumors that cannot be removed at first may be treated with other therapies to shrink them enough for surgery later. If a scan has found a spot that may not even be cancer, see liver tumor vs cyst.
What Are the Surgical Options for Liver Cancer?
The two main surgical options are liver resection and liver transplantation. They suit very different patients.
| Option | What it involves | Who it usually suits |
|---|---|---|
| Liver resection (partial hepatectomy) | Removes the part of the liver that contains the tumor | Patients with a single tumor and good liver function |
| Liver transplantation | Replaces the diseased liver with a healthy donor liver | Selected patients with liver cancer and advanced liver disease who meet strict criteria |
Liver resection
Resection is typically recommended for a single tumor in a patient whose liver works well. The liver can regenerate, so the remaining tissue takes over the work of the whole liver and may regrow toward its normal size over time. Many patients recover well when enough healthy tissue remains.
Liver transplantation
A transplant treats both the cancer and the underlying liver damage, which is why it may be considered when cancer occurs alongside advanced liver disease. Eligibility is based on strict criteria, including tumor size and number. Donor livers are limited, so patients may receive other treatment, such as ablation or embolization, while they wait.
Wondering if your tumor can be removed?
Board-certified surgical oncologist Dr. Murtaza Shakir reviews liver imaging and treatment options with patients in Katy and Sugar Land. Request a consultation to talk through your case.
Who Is a Candidate for Liver Cancer Surgery?
Suitable candidates usually have a limited number of tumors confined to the liver, good liver function, no evidence of cancer in other organs and enough general health to tolerate major surgery. Not everyone with liver cancer is eligible.
Surgical removal is often not possible for people with:
- Severe cirrhosis or poor liver function
- Multiple tumors spread through the liver
- Advanced-stage disease or spread outside the liver
- Medical conditions that make a major operation unsafe
For these patients, other treatments may be recommended to control cancer growth and manage symptoms. Being told surgery is not right for you now is not the same as being told nothing can be done.
How Do You Prepare for Liver Cancer Surgery?
Preparation starts with a thorough medical evaluation that confirms surgery is safe and maps out the operation.
- Imaging: CT scans or MRI show where the tumor is and how healthy the rest of the liver looks.
- Blood tests: these check how well the liver is working.
- Heart and lung evaluation: these confirm you can safely undergo anesthesia and major surgery.
- Lifestyle changes: stopping smoking and improving nutrition may be recommended before the operation.
Understanding the procedure, its risks and the expected recovery helps patients feel prepared and make informed choices.
What Is Recovery Like After Liver Cancer Surgery?
Recovery depends on the type of operation and your overall health, and hospital stays may range from several days to two weeks. During that time, the focus is on pain control, getting up and walking early and gradually returning to eating.
The care team closely monitors liver function and watches for infection and other complications. The American Cancer Society lists bleeding, infection, blood clots, pneumonia and anesthesia problems among the risks of liver resection. After a transplant, lifelong anti-rejection medicines bring their own risks, including serious infections.
Many patients begin resuming normal activities within several weeks and return to their usual routine over time with medical guidance. Follow-up visits and scans are essential, because the underlying liver disease remains and cancer can come back or a new liver cancer can develop.
When should you get urgent care?
After surgery, call your surgical team promptly for fever, worsening pain, redness or drainage at the incision, new yellowing of the skin or eyes, or leg swelling. Call 911 or go to the emergency room for chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, vomiting blood or heavy bleeding.
What Treatments Are Available When Surgery Is Not an Option?
When surgery is not possible, several non-surgical treatments can still help manage liver cancer. The National Cancer Institute lists these among the standard options:
- Ablation: destroys tumors with heat (radiofrequency or microwave) or cold (cryoablation), or with an alcohol injection.
- Embolization: blocks the blood supply that feeds the tumor, sometimes combined with chemotherapy (TACE). It is used when surgery or ablation is not possible and the cancer has not spread outside the liver.
- Targeted drug therapy: medicines that act on specific features of cancer cells, mainly for advanced disease.
- Immunotherapy: drugs that help the immune system attack the cancer, also mainly for advanced disease.
- Radiation therapy: used in select cases.
These treatments may not cure liver cancer, but they can slow its progression, relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Plans are individualized to the patient’s condition and goals of care.
How Can Patients in Katy, Sugar Land and Houston Get a Surgical Opinion?
The most useful first step is a consultation with a surgical oncologist who can review your imaging, blood work and pathology together. Surgical Associates of Southern Texas provides treatment planning for liver conditions, including surgical and non-surgical options, for patients from across the Houston area.
- Request copies of your CT or MRI reports and images, and any biopsy report
- Bring recent blood work and a list of your medications
- Write down any history of hepatitis, cirrhosis, heavy alcohol use or prior cancer
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is a board-certified General Surgeon and is board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology. He sees patients in Katy and Sugar Land. Learn more about our liver cancer care and general surgery, or call (713) 955-9191.
Questions to Ask Your Surgeon About Liver Cancer Surgery
- Is my liver cancer primary or did it spread from another organ?
- Can the whole tumor be removed, and how much healthy liver would remain?
- How well is the rest of my liver working, and does cirrhosis affect my options?
- Am I a candidate for resection, a transplant or another treatment?
- Could other treatment first shrink the tumor enough for surgery?
- How long would I be in the hospital, and what does recovery look like?
- What follow-up scans and blood tests will I need afterward?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can early-stage liver cancer be removed with surgery?
Often, yes. Early-stage liver cancer that is confined to the liver may be surgically removed in eligible patients, as long as enough healthy liver will remain and the patient is healthy enough for surgery.
Does liver cancer surgery cure the disease?
Surgery can offer a chance of cure, but it is not a guarantee. Because liver cancer can return, or a new tumor can form in a damaged liver, ongoing monitoring with scans and blood tests is necessary.
Is liver surgery high risk?
Liver surgery is complex, with risks such as bleeding, infection and blood clots. It can be performed safely in specialized centers with experienced surgical teams, and careful patient selection lowers the risk.
How long does recovery take after liver cancer surgery?
Hospital stays range from several days to two weeks. Recovery time varies, but many patients begin resuming normal activities within several weeks.
Does the liver grow back after part of it is removed?
The remaining liver takes over the work of the whole organ and may regrow over time. This is one reason a resection is possible, as long as enough healthy tissue is left behind.
What if I am not eligible for liver cancer surgery?
Other treatments such as ablation, embolization, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or radiation may still be effective. They can slow the cancer, relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Key Takeaway
Liver cancer can be removed with surgery for many patients when it is found early, limited to the liver and the remaining liver works well. Resection and transplantation suit different patients, and careful evaluation decides which, if either, fits. When surgery is not possible, other treatments can still control the cancer.
Sources and Further Reading
- Liver Cancer Treatment (PDQ), Patient Version, National Cancer Institute
- Surgery for Liver Cancer, American Cancer Society
- Liver Cancer, MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
This article is general education, not personal medical advice. For severe abdominal pain, fever with abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, seek emergency care.
Meet the Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is a board-certified General Surgeon and is board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology. He earned his medical degree at Aga Khan University, completed General Surgery residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and a two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He sees patients at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas in Katy and Sugar Land.
Related Reading and Care
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This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For severe abdominal pain or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated October 16, 2026.