Liver cancer is a serious condition and for many patients, surgery offers a chance at long-term survival. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with liver cancer, understanding what liver surgery involves can help you make confident and informed decisions about your care.
Liver cancer surgery involves the removal of cancerous tissue from the liver. This can range from excising a portion of the liver (known as a resection) to replacing the entire liver through transplantation.
The liver can regenerate, so it’s possible to remove large sections safely in many cases, so long as the remaining liver tissue is adequate in volume and healthy enough to continue functioning. Surgical treatment is usually most effective in the early stages of liver cancer and when the disease is confined to the liver.
There are two primary surgical approaches used to treat liver cancer:
In this procedure, the surgeon removes the part of the liver that contains the tumour. This is only possible if the remaining liver is healthy enough to maintain normal function.
Types of liver resections include:
If the cancer meets specific criteria (such as the Milan criteria, used to select suitable transplant candidates), the whole liver can be surgically taken out and replaced with a healthy liver from a donor. Doctors often consider this approach when liver damage or cirrhosis makes resection unfeasible.
Liver cancer operations can be performed via the traditional open surgery, where a long cut is made in the abdomen to allow the surgeons to assess the liver.
Nowadays, due to the advancements made in instrumentations and surgical techniques, laparoscopic approach can also be considered. This is when surgeons perform the surgery through a few small holes. Recovery from laparoscopic surgery is much faster, due to the smaller wounds.
Surgery is not suitable for every liver cancer patient. It is typically recommended when:
Prior to surgery, your care team will conduct:
Your doctor may require that you stop certain medications, adjust your diet, and avoid alcohol in the days leading up to the operation.
Under general anaesthesia, the surgical team will remove the affected part of the liver. In a liver resection, this involves cutting away the tumour along with a section of healthy tissue. In a transplant, the entire liver is replaced with a donor organ and then connected to the recipient’s blood vessels and bile ducts.
Surgery time varies, but most cases take between 4 and 8 hours.
Recovery begins in the hospital, often in an intensive care setting. You’ll be monitored closely for:
Pain management, wound care, and gradual reintroduction of diet and activity are part of the routine. Most patients are hospitalised for about 7 to 14 days, with transplant recipients requiring more extended stays and lifelong anti-rejection medication.
Understanding what increases your risk for liver cancer can help with early detection and prevention. While some risk factors are genetic, others are related to lifestyle or pre-existing health conditions. These include:
The cost of liver cancer surgery in Singapore depends on the type of procedure chosen. Quoting from the Ministry of Health Doctors Fee Benchmark, the doctors’ professional fees are as follows:
Based on the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Singapore’s historical bill data, surgeon fees typically range from S$18,800 to S$33,600 (excluding GST).
Due to its complexity and post-op care needs, transplant costs are significantly higher and can range well beyond S$22,400.
These figures reflect only the surgeons’ fees. The final hospital bill will also depend on:
Procedures are Medisave-claimable, helping you cover part of the cost. Additional support may be available through your integrated shield plan or private insurance. For a cost estimate tailored to your situation, speak with your hospital’s financial counsellor or care team.
Eligibility depends on the size, number, and location of tumours, overall liver health, and whether the cancer has spread. Pre-surgical evaluations will help determine your suitability.
Up to 70% of a healthy liver can be removed, provided the remaining portion is sufficient to maintain normal function. This is less in patients with cirrhosis or fatty liver disease.
Yes. The liver is capable of regeneration. Within weeks to months, the remaining liver can regrow to compensate for the lost volume.
You’ll need to undergo blood tests and imaging, adjust your medications, and possibly fast before surgery. Quitting alcohol and smoking can improve your surgical outcome and recovery.
Watch for:
See a doctor if any of these symptoms appear.
Follow-up includes imaging every 3 to 6 months for the first two years, followed by annual imaging thereafter. These scans monitor for tumour recurrence or changes in liver health.
The prognosis depends on the stage of cancer and underlying liver condition. When liver cancer is detected early and surgically removed or treated with a transplant, 5-year survival rates can be up to 70% in some cases.
At Nexus Surgical, our skilled surgeons offer comprehensive liver cancer treatment. If you’ve been diagnosed or are seeking a second opinion about your treatment opinions, we’re here to help.
Colorectal & General Surgeon
Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric & General Surgeon
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Our clinics will be closed from 16 – 18 Feb for CNY
Our clinic at Mt Alvernia Medical Centre A will be relocating from #06-05 to #03-03 (within the same building) on Friday, 26 Sep afternoon.
Our telephone line 6353 4855 will be temporarily unavailable from 12:00pm – 6:00pm on 26 September. During this period, you may reach out to our other clinics for assistance:
We will begin operations at our new premises (#03-03) from Tuesday, 30 Sep onwards.
We look forward to serving you at our new clinic!
Nexus Surgical clinics at Mt Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Parkway East Medical Centre and Mt Alvernia Medical Centre will be closed on 28 January 2025 for Lunar New Year celebrations, while our clinic at Mt Elizabeth Orchard Medical Centre remains open from 0900-1300 hours on 28 January 2025.
Please leave a message in our voice mails and we will respond to you as soon as we can when we resume our clinics on 31 January 2025. If you require any urgent assistance, kindly go to the Urgent Care Centre of any hospitals or contact your doctor through the Emergency Answering Service. Our team at Nexus Surgical would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year with good health in the Year of the Snake!
Nexus Surgical will be away from 17 to 20 October 2024 for our Annual Company Retreat. The aim of our retreat is to review and to recharge, so that we may serve you better.
Our clinics at Mount Elizabeth Orchard, Mount Elizabeth Novena, Mount Alvernia and Parkway East hospitals will therefore be closed during this period. In the meantime, if you require any urgent assistance, kindly contact us through our Answering Service at +65 6333 5550.
We thank you for your understanding and patience for any inconvenience.
