Medication

Only as late as 2007, doctors claim to have found pills that improves survival in liver cancer, a notoriously hard to treat disease diagnosed in more than half a million people globally each year.

Patients got either two tablets daily of a drug called sorafenib or dummy pills in the study, which started in March 2005. Some patients are still alive, although on average, sorafenib patients survived 10.7 months versus almost 8 months for those on dummy pills.

Sorafenib attacks cancer with a targeted double-barreled approach. It zeros in on malignant cells themselves and cuts off the blood supply feeding the tumor. It is believed to work on tumors within the liver and those that have spread elsewhere. In the study, tumors didn’t shrink or disappear but in many cases they also didn’t grow.

Also, please note that sometimes wrong medications can in fact cause liver damage. In general, people with liver disease should avoid medications known to be hepatotoxic. People who must be treated with a medication that is potentially hepatotoxic should have their LFTs closely monitored by their doctors. During medication, if a person’s LFTs become greater than three times baseline values, the medication causing these elevations should be discontinued. Also, it is essential that people with liver disease inform their liver specialists of every medication or drug that they are taking including herbs, over-the-counter drugs and/or recreational drugs. There is no reason for the patient to expect the doctor to be judgmental. Complete information should be provided to the doctor concerning prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and herbal and alternative therapies