Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells of the liver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people who get liver cancer has been increasing every year. Some liver cancer cases are related to hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infections and cirrhosis. People who have cirrhosis should get ultrasounds every 6 months to help detect liver cancer early.

Symptoms

There are many symptoms associated with liver cancer. These include losing weight, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, general weakness and fatigue, and yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes. If you are experiencing these symptoms, we recommend you seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

Treatment(s)

There are many options available to treat liver cancer. These treatment options depend on your own unique condition and may include surgery, liver transplant, radiation, targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy, destroying cancer cells with heat or cold, and even experimental medications that are currently in the research phase. We partner with specialists from variety of other disciplines, such as interventional radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and hepatobiliary surgeons to closely evaluate and provide our patients with individualized treatment plans that will be most effective. 
 

Programs + Services

Liver/Hepato-Biliary Cancer Program

Explore the Hepatic Cancer Care Center and learn more about the treatment and causes of liver cancer at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA.
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Hepatology

Tufts Center for Liver Disease specializes in treating liver disease, such as cirrhosis, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
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Liver Transplantation

Tufts Medical Center’s Liver Transplant Program delivers expert liver transplantion and compassionate care from evaluation to post-care.
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Doctors + Care Team

Harmony Allison, MD

Harmony Allison, MD

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Virtual Appointments Available

Online Scheduling Available

Title(s): Gastroenterologist; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Gastroenterology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-5883
Fax #: 617-636-1480

Gastrointestinal motility, inflammatory bowel disease, general GI and endoscopy, diarrhea, constipation, celiac disease and limited liver function test abnormalities

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Jacob M. Elkon, MD
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Jacob M. Elkon, MD

Accepting New Patients

Title(s): Hematologist/Oncologist; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6227
Fax #: 617-636-8538

Gastrointestinal cancers, including colon, rectal, esophageal, stomach, liver and pancreatic cancers

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Raffi Karagozian, MD
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Raffi Karagozian, MD

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Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Online Scheduling Available

Title(s): Hepatologist; Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship Program; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Gastroenterology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-5883
Fax #: 617-636-4505

Abnormal liver tests, cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Hepatitis B/C, liver transplant, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, benign liver lesions, liver cancer, hemochromatosis, and drug induced liver injury.

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Robert Martell, MD, PhD
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Robert Martell, MD, PhD

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Accepting New Patients

Title(s): Medical Oncologist; Associate Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6227
Fax #: 617-636-8538

Phase I clinical trials, GI oncology, breast cancer, head and neck malignancies, liver tumors

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Thomas Schnelldorfer, MD, PhD, FACS
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Thomas Schnelldorfer, MD, PhD, FACS

Accepting New Patients

Title(s): Surgical Oncologist; Director, Minimally Invasive Surgical Oncology; Director of the Surgical Imaging Laboratory; Professor of Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Surgery, Surgical Oncology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-9400
Fax #: 617-636-9095

Gastrointestinal and oncologic surgery, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatobiliary cancers, gallbladder disease, minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery

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