couple enjoying life after liver cancer treatment

Liver Cancer Treatment in Hollywood, FL
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Your risk for liver cancer is higher if you’re a man, have cirrhosis, or have hepatitis B, but anyone can develop the disease. Robert Donoway, MD, FACS, at Atlas Oncology has extensive experience treating liver cancer, including performing the innovative NanoKnife® irreversible electroporation (IRE) procedure. If you’ve been told your liver cancer is inoperable, you still have hope with NanoKnife. To learn more, call (305) 343 3886 or book an appointment online.

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Understanding Liver Cancer

Primary liver cancer begins in the liver itself, most commonly as hepatocellular carcinoma, and is different from cancer that has spread to the liver from elsewhere in the body. Chronic liver conditions like cirrhosis and hepatitis B or C significantly increase risk, and because the liver has few nerve endings, early-stage tumors often cause no noticeable symptoms. By the time symptoms like abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, or swelling appear, the cancer may already be more advanced.

Traditional treatment for liver cancer often involves surgical resection or a liver transplant, but many patients aren’t candidates for either option due to tumor location, the extent of underlying liver disease, or overall health. This is where minimally invasive, image-guided treatments have become an important part of modern liver cancer care.

NanoKnife for Inoperable Liver Tumors

The NanoKnife procedure uses irreversible electroporation (IRE) to destroy liver tumors with targeted electrical pulses rather than heat, cold, or a scalpel. This matters because liver tumors are frequently located near major blood vessels or bile ducts — structures that heat-based ablation techniques can damage. NanoKnife’s ability to spare these critical structures makes it possible to treat tumors that would otherwise be considered untouchable.

Dr. Donoway also offers cryoablation as an additional minimally invasive option for certain liver tumors, and often draws on his broader experience treating hepatobiliary cancers like bile duct cancer when planning your care. If your liver cancer has been called inoperable, a consultation can help you understand whether NanoKnife, cryoablation, or another approach is right for you. See our complete list of cancer treatment services, or review what’s involved in becoming a new patient at our practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main risk factors for liver cancer?

Chronic hepatitis B or C infection, cirrhosis, heavy alcohol use, and fatty liver disease are among the most significant risk factors. Being male and having a family history of liver disease also increase risk.

Why is liver cancer often diagnosed at a later stage?

The liver has relatively few nerve endings, so early tumors typically don’t cause pain or noticeable symptoms. Many liver cancers are found incidentally during imaging for other conditions or once symptoms like jaundice or weight loss appear.

What does it mean if my liver cancer is “inoperable”?

Inoperable typically means the tumor’s size, location near major blood vessels, or the extent of underlying liver disease makes surgical removal or transplant too risky or not technically possible.

How is the NanoKnife procedure different from other liver cancer treatments?

Unlike heat-based ablation methods, NanoKnife uses electrical pulses to destroy cancer cells, which allows it to treat tumors located near major blood vessels and bile ducts without damaging those critical structures.

Can cryoablation and NanoKnife be used together for liver cancer?

In some cases, yes. Dr. Donoway evaluates each patient’s tumor characteristics and overall health to determine whether a single approach or a combination of minimally invasive treatments offers the best outcome.

What is recovery like after NanoKnife treatment for liver cancer?

Because NanoKnife is minimally invasive, recovery is generally shorter than after open liver surgery, though your specific recovery timeline depends on tumor size, location, and your overall health.

How do I schedule a liver cancer consultation?

Call (305) 343 3886 or book online to schedule a consultation with Dr. Donoway at Atlas Oncology in Hollywood, FL
We do Not accept Mail at this address, do not send records until speaking to office and getting correct mailing address..