What is tumour ablation?
Tumour ablation is a procedure to shrink a liver tumour by sending radio waves, chemicals, heat, or cold into the tumour.
The doctor will insert a thin needle or a probe into your skin on the right side of your belly near your ribs. You may feel pain in your shoulder for a few seconds when the needle or probe goes into your liver. This is called referred pain. It is caused by pain travelling along a nerve near the liver.
You may feel some pain in your belly when the doctor uses the probe. The doctor may repeat the procedure from a different angle to make sure that all areas of the tumour are treated.
After the procedure, the doctor will remove the needle or probe. The doctor or nurse will put a bandage over your skin where the probe was inserted. You will probably go home on the same day as the procedure.
The radio waves, chemicals, heat, or cold make the tumour shrink. Bit by bit, the tumour will be replaced with scar tissue over the next few months. This will not affect your liver's ability to do its job.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all follow-up appointments, and call your doctor or nurse if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
How do you prepare for the procedure?
Procedures can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect, and it will help you safely prepare for your procedure.
Preparing for the procedure
- Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
- Make sure you understand your treatment plan, including the procedure, risks, benefits, follow-up treatments, and other options.
- If you take blood thinners (anticoagulants), ask your doctor if you should stop taking them before your procedure. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do. These medicines increase the risk of bleeding.
- Your doctor will tell you which medicines to take or stop before your procedure. You may need to stop taking certain medicines a week or more before the procedure. So talk to your doctor as soon as you can.
- Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance care plan. If you don't have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It's a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.
