LIVER CANCER - START YOUR TREATMENT NOW
THE BEST DOCTORS, THE BEST HOSPITALS, THE BEST MEDICATIONS and TREATMENTS
LIVER CANCER STANDARD TREATMENT
Liver cancer is a health challenge globally, ranking among the top causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In 2024 over 1,408,000 new cases were diagnosed, and by data received over one million deaths were reported.
In Europe still poses a serious health concern. In 2024 around 300,000 new cases were reported, with nearly 216,000 deaths. The survival rate for liver cancer patients in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany is around 15% for women and up to 20% for men.
The Zdenko Kos Foundation offers advanced therapies and excellent medical facilities using innovative technologies along with top class skilled medical professionals.
Why choose and book the treatment with Zdenko Kos Foundation?
The main reasons are:
- Precise diagnostics
- Highly advanced technologies and innovative therapies
- The highest success rates with our multidisciplinary treatment approaches and personalized care plans
- Accessibility for all patients from Europe and elsewhere (International patients who are self-paying or have international medical insurance are always welcome)
- Comprehensive medicine and holistic care
- Free rehabilitation in hospital after the procedure
Book Your Liver Cancer Standard Treatment Here
STANDARD PROCEDURES IN EUROPE AND IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
SURGERY
Surgical procedure is the basic treatment of liver cancer, particularly in its early stages. Normally there are two surgical approaches:
- Partial hepatectomy and
- Liver transplantation.
Partial hepatectomy (liver resection):
This procedure involves the removal of the cancerous portion of the liver. It is typically indicated for patients with a single tumour, no metastasis, and sufficient liver function.
With this procedure in following with liver resection for HCC ranges the survival rate is up to 70%, depending on various factors including tumour size and liver function generally.
Liver transplantation:
For patients with early-stage HCC who meet specific criteria (such as the Milan criteria), liver transplantation offers the best way out.
With such procedure the survival rate with post-transplantation is around 70%, with a recurrence-free survival rate of nearly 76%.
Surgical options are most effective for patients diagnosed at an early stage, without metastasis, and with adequate liver function.
LOCAL THERAPIES
Local therapies are essential for liver cancer treatments, more over for patients who are not seen to have surgery. These treatments target tumours directly, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Thermal ablation techniques:
Including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA), utilize heat to destroy cancer cells. RFA employs high-frequency electrical currents, while MWA uses electromagnetic waves to generate heat.
These methods are most effective for small tumours (typically less than 3 cm in diameter) and are minimally invasive, often performed on an outpatient basis. RFA can achieve complete response rates exceeding 90% for tumours smaller than 3 cm, with 5-year survival rates ranging up to 70%.
Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE):
Is a procedure that delivers chemotherapy directly to the liver tumour via the hepatic artery, followed by the injection of embolic agents to block blood flow, thereby trapping the chemotherapy in the tumour.
This method is beneficial for patients with unresectable tumours. Clinical studies have reported median survival times of approximately 17 months post-TACE, with improved outcomes in patients achieving significant tumour size reduction.
LOCAL THERAPIES
Hyperthermia therapy:
Involves raising the temperature of tumour tissues to enhance the efficacy of other treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
By increasing tumour temperature to around 40-43°C, hyperthermia can induce cancer cell death and improve drug delivery. While still under investigation, hyperthermia has shown promise as a complementary therapy in liver cancer treatment.
Dendritic cell therapy:
Is an advanced immunotherapy that involves harvesting a patient's dendritic cells, exposing them to tumour-specific antigens, and reintroducing them into the body to stimulate a targeted immune response against cancer cells.
Adaptive immunity:
This innovative treatment approach has demonstrated safety and potential efficacy in HCC patients.
A 1-year overall survival rate of 44.6% among patients receiving immunotherapy based on dendritic cells.
THERMAL ABLATION TECHNIQUES
Once surgical removal of liver metastases isn't possible, thermal and ablation techniques offer patients effective alternatives that can destroy cancer cells while preserving healthy liver tissue.
These minimally invasive procedures use controlled temperature changes to target metastatic liver cancer with precision and can often be repeated as needed.
Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia represents a sophisticated auxiliary treatment that enhances traditional cancer therapies. This method exploits cancer cells' greater heat sensitivity compared to healthy tissue.
The treatment involves precisely heating affected liver areas to temperatures between 40-45°C using electromagnetic waves or infrared radiation.
At these elevated temperatures, several critical mechanisms occur that specifically benefit patients with primary cancer that has spread to the liver:
- Enhanced drug penetration: hyperthermia improves blood flow to metastatic sites, allowing chemotherapy agents to reach tumour cells more effectively.
- Radiation sensitization: heat damages cancer cells' DNA repair mechanisms, making previously radiation-resistant secondary liver cancer responsive to treatment
- Immune system activation: temperatures above 40°C trigger heat shock protein production, which helps the immune system better recognize and attack metastatic foci.
- Direct cell death: at temperatures exceeding 42° C, programmed cell death (apoptosis) begins in cancer cells.
For liver metastases treatment, hyperthermia is typically combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
THERMAL ABLATION TECHNIQUES
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery offers a viable treatment option for patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer up to 5 cm in size, using extreme cold to destroy cancer cells. This minimally invasive technique can be performed through open surgery, laparoscopic approach, or percutaneous (through-the-skin) procedures under imaging guidance.
During treatment, specialized probes deliver liquid nitrogen or argon gas to freeze secondary liver cancer to temperatures below -40° C, causing cancer cells to die while preserving surrounding healthy liver tissue. The procedure is particularly valuable for patients who cannot undergo traditional surgery due to:
- Multiple metastases in both liver lobes
- High-risk medical conditions that make major surgery dangerous
- Strategic tumour locations near critical blood vessels or bile ducts
- Patient preference for less invasive treatment options.
Smaller metastases (≤3 cm) and lower CEA levels typically yield better results. The procedure shows low recurrence rates at treated sites (up to15%) and can be safely repeated if secondary liver cancer develop.
Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) represent advanced thermal destruction techniques for liver metastases, offering minimally invasive alternatives when surgery isn't feasible. Under ultrasound or CT guidance, physicians insert thin electrodes or probes directly into metastatic cancer tissue.
RFA uses high-frequency electrical current to generate controlled heat that destroys cancer cells while preserving healthy liver tissue. The procedure typically takes 10-30 minutes per lesion and can often be performed as an outpatient treatment.
Patients experience minimal discomfort and can usually return to normal activities within days rather than weeks required for major surgery.
MWA uses electromagnetic waves to create larger, more uniform heating zones with several key advantages:
- Faster treatment times with more predictable ablation zones
- Superior performance near blood vessels, where RFA may be limited
- Multiple lesion treatment capability during a single procedure
- Particularly effective for liver tumours ≥3 cm in diameter
Both techniques are most effective for secondary liver cancer sites measuring 4-5 cm or less and can be safely repeated if new lesions develop.
CHEMICAL and VASCULAR PROCEDURES
Chemical and vascular procedures offer targeted approaches that work through the liver's unique blood supply system. These techniques either deliver concentrated treatments directly to tumours or use chemical agents to destroy cancer cells while preserving healthy liver tissue.
Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE)
Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive procedure that combines targeted chemotherapy delivery with vascular occlusion to maximize treatment effectiveness while minimizing systemic side effects.
During TACE, procedure radiologists use advanced imaging guidance to navigate a microcatheter through blood vessels directly to the hepatic artery feeding the metastases. High-concentration chemotherapy drugs are then injected precisely into the tumour's blood supply, delivering doses up to 15 times higher than possible with systemic chemotherapy. Following drug delivery, tiny embolic particles block the tumour's blood vessels, trapping the chemotherapy within the cancer cells while starving them of nutrients.
Key advantages for liver metastases patients include:
- Targeted drug delivery with minimal systemic toxicity compared to traditional chemotherapy
- Outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia with same-day discharge
- Repeatable treatment that can be safely performed multiple times as needed
- Preserved liver function by protecting healthy liver tissue during treatment
- Extended survival for cancer metastasis.
TACE has proven particularly effective for colorectal, breast, gastric, and lung cancer metastases, with response rates up to 80% depending on tumour characteristics. The procedure's effectiveness can be enhanced through a combination with systemic therapies.
Alcoholization of metastases
Percutaneous alcohol injection (PAI) offers a simple, cost-effective treatment for small liver metastases under 4 cm. Under ultrasound guidance, physicians inject sterile ethyl alcohol directly into metastatic tissue, causing immediate cell death through dehydration and protein coagulation.
The alcohol destroys tumour cells and triggers blood vessel thrombosis, leading to complete tissue necrosis followed by fibrotic scar formation. Clinical studies show complete tumour destruction in over 50% of treated lesions, with particularly good results for colorectal, breast, and endocrine primary cancers that have spread to the liver.
Key benefits include:
- Outpatient procedure with minimal invasiveness
- Low complication rates – mainly mild pain and occasional fever
- Cost-effective alternative when liver resection is contraindicated
- Repeatable treatment for multiple lesions.
PAI is especially valuable for patients unable to undergo surgery due to medical conditions or tumour location. While newer thermal ablation techniques are increasingly preferred, alcohol injection remains a reasonable option for carefully selected patients with small, accessible liver metastases when other treatments aren't suitable.
RADIATION BASED THERAPIES
Radiation-based therapies offer precise treatment options that deliver high-dose radiation directly to liver metastases. These advanced techniques use either implanted radioactive sources or targeted microspheres to destroy cancer cells while minimizing exposure to healthy liver tissue.
Brachytherapy
Interstitial brachytherapy combines interventional radiology with radiation therapy to deliver high-dose radiation directly into the primary cancer and its spread to the liver. Under CT guidance, physicians place thin catheters into tumours and insert radioactive sources through an after loading technique.
This minimally invasive procedure offers several advantages for liver metastases:
- Precise radiation delivery unaffected by breathing motion or blood vessel cooling effects
- Single-session treatment with high local control rates exceeding 80-90%
- Minimal healthy tissue damage due to targeted radiation placement
- Effective for various tumour types, including colorectal, breast, and pancreatic metastases
The technique is particularly valuable for metastases near critical structures where other treatments may be limited.
Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)
SIRT delivers targeted radiation through tiny radioactive microspheres injected directly into the hepatic artery feeding cancer that has spread to the liver. These yttrium-90 spheres become trapped in tumour blood vessels, delivering concentrated radiation while sparing healthy liver tissue.
Key benefits include:
- Preferential tumour targeting with microspheres clustering around secondary cancer sites
- Minimal toxicity – mainly fatigue, mild nausea, and temporary liver enzyme elevation
- Excellent local control with impressive survival rates for colorectal metastases
- Outpatient procedure with quick recovery times
SIRT has shown particular effectiveness for colorectal liver metastases, offering months to years of progression-free survival with good quality of life.
The treatment can be safely repeated and combined with other therapies.
TARGETED DRUG THERAPY
Targeted therapy uses medications that interfere with specific molecular processes essential for cancer survival and growth. For primary cancer that has spread to the liver, angiogenesis inhibitors represent a key treatment category that blocks the formation of new blood vessels feeding tumours.
These drugs work by:
- Blocking the tumor blood supply by preventing new vessel formation
- Starving secondary cancer sites of nutrients and oxygen needed for growth
- Enhancing other treatments when combined with surgery or chemoembolization
Targeted therapy is typically administered intravenously and can be safely combined with other liver-directed treatments. The approach offers patients extended disease control with manageable side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.
Dendritic cell vaccines
Dendritic cell immunotherapy represents one of the most promising advances in cancer treatment, building on the Nobel Prize-winning discovery in 2011.
This revolutionary approach harnesses the body's own immune system to create a personalized vaccine specifically designed to target liver metastases.
Dendritic cells function as the "generals" of the immune system, identifying cancer cells and training specialized immune "soldiers" (T-lymphocytes) to recognize and destroy malignant tissue. The treatment process involves extracting immune cells from the patient's blood, transforming them into trained dendritic cells in specialized laboratories, and reintroducing them as a personalized vaccine.
The treatment offers remarkable benefits for cancer that has spread to the liver:
- Personalized medicine tailored to each patient's specific cancer characteristics
- Minimal side effects with only mild injection site reactions or temporary fever
- Long-lasting immunity that provides lifelong protection against cancer recurrence
- Quality of life preservation without the debilitating effects of traditional cancer treatments
All the evidence demonstrates significant improvements in liver function, reduced tumour markers, and extended survival in patients with advanced cancer. The immune response is transformative – once activated, it develops lifelong memory against specific cancer cells, with blood tests showing dramatic increases in cancer-targeting lymphocytes.
PRICES FOR LIVER CANCER STANDARD TREATMENT PROCEDURES
Liver cancer Standard and Improved treatment Price List:
- Liver cancer diagnostics £6,000
- Liver cancer standard treatment half course £38,800
- Liver cancer standard treatment full course £98,000
- Liver cancer innovative method half course £16,400
- liver cancer innovative method full course £44,500
- Oncological rehabilitation £0.00 if booked and admitted with The Zdenko Kos Foundation.
The above figures represent ¼ of the price, the balance of ¾ of the original price contributed and covered by The Zdenko Kos Foundation.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Can I choose the hospital for my treatment?
Yes, you can select the hospital you would like to be during your treatment, however, keep in mind that that particular hospital must have a department and wards for the kind of profile of your medical issue. When the patients identify where they would like to have their treatment, they must have in mind the remoteness from the airports, main road and main railways in cases of any emergencies.
We’ll give our recommendation which is based on a long experience and a profound analysis of all criteria necessary for the quality of medical the patients are looking for.
How much does treatment cost?
When you book your treatment with us you will get fix figure of which you are paying just ¼ of original cost only, the balance of ¾ contributed and paid by Zdenko Kos Foundation.
Costs for hospitals are also fixed for entire year, therefore, if you are having treatment over one year, the hospital costs might changed. Once you make the payment for the hospital (eg. for one year) you have hospital free of any charges doesn't matter how many times and days per year you spent in the hospital, doesn't matter how many times you are booked and discharged from the hospital.
What is the cost of your services
Depending on the duration of the medical program the cost in every hospital doesn't matter, the country may vary - but not when you are booking with us. Our prices are fixed doesn't matter what we may find once eg. surgery or treatment start. All the costs of our services are significantly lower, up to 80% (depending on treatment) that you will have to pay either through your health system in your country or when organizing the program on your own. There are several reasons for it: The hospitals provided by us have special contract agreements to have fixed rates with discounts for the entire year. There are no overstated rates. You and the hospital you will be having treatment are insured specially from unforeseen expenses eg. possible complications.
With whom will I conclude the contract?
You must book with us, and you will complete the contract with us - The Zdenko Kos Foundation. It is a contract on the organization of a medical trip and provision of services. The protocol is very clear:
[1] You have to make the booking with us online on this web site (see the page with the booking box) for the treatment you are after where we are strongly suggest to give us as much data and images of your medical condition to date that we can contact you directly with our doctors, consultants and other medical staff for the treatment you would like to have.
[2] Once booking is completed, you will receive automated mail for the payment to be made. You have to make the payment in full for the treatment you would like to have in maximum 24 hours after the booking. With making the payment you start ball rolling.
[3] Being admitted to the hospital, you will conclude a direct contract with us for the provision of medical services.
{4} Once payment made you will get direct link to the doctor and counsaltant to discuss your case face-to-face via What's Up or other such service provider available to both parties depend on your locatition.
Why should I pay you, but not the hospital?
Firstly, unlike many intermediary firms and portals, we do not take from hospitals a percentage of the medical service cost because we have contract agreement not just with hospitals but also with doctors, consultants and other medical professional in each hospital we are working with.
Secondly, we are covering ¾ of costs for your procedure not to mention that your procedure-treatment will be fully insured up to £250,000 (for one year treatment) and automatically up to £500,000 (for 2-5 years treatment). The Zdenko Kos Foundation cover the hospital insurance seperately during your treatment if there may come to unforseen complication during the treatment.
Finally, as we are registered as charity, we remain independent in choosing a medical facility and work exclusively for the benefit of the patient. Any type of payment for sending a patient to the hospital is prohibited by law, since it contradicts medical ethics.
At what point do the services become paid?
The services for the organization of treatment become paid from the moment you made your medical treatment booking online and make the payment in full. Once this done, pre-treatment consultation will take the place following the initial examination (hospitalization).
Can I contact the hospital directly?
Yes, of course, you can also contact the hospital on your own. You should choose the hospital and the attending doctor, write an email to the chief doctor with a description of your case in English, ask him/her about the possibility of undergoing treatment in the hospital and the approximate cost of staying there. If you have received the consent of the hospital and you are satisfied with the price for the hospital (please specify that it must be the price for one year doesn’t matter on number of admissions and discharges and transfer an advance payment to us on our account. Once full payment is received, we will negotiate special terms with the hospital you select on your own that they will be aware of what and how many procedures they have to have in mind and secure at any time free bad in ward. If you are coming from a non-EU country write an email to the secretary of the hospital with a request to send an invitation for a visa. Please note that the invitation should come from the chief doctor, but not from the hospital's international department. After that you should on your own get a visa for medical treatment abroad, agree with the secretary of the chief physician on the date of the initial examination (hospitalization), translate medical records of local physicians into German or English (depending on the chosen country for treatment), book a hotel, prepare a transfer from the airport and find for yourself an interpreter for communication with the medical staff.
All these activities are not needed in case you are booking with us and you are choosing a hospital we would recommend. If you book with us, we will deal with your visa (if you are coming from a non-EU country), we will book you a hotel, and do all that is necessary to get you started with your treatment.
Shall I pay for a consultation?
A consultation before the treatment as well as long-distance consultation (if you are not from EU countries) is provided free except when you are returning to your home address and it is necessary to study CT or MRI images as the specialist gives an official consultation with a written opinion.
If you are not from EU countries it is imperative to translate epicurises and medical records from domestic doctors into English.
If you opt for our services for the organization of treatment with us, there is no need to translate the medical records. This will be done by qualified specialists.
What happens, if I refuse from the treatment?
If you refuse from the treatment you will get a refund of the advance payment.
The expenses for all what has been done to that moment will be deducted acordingly.
Is it possible to postpone the treatment?
Yes, it is. In case of an advance postponement (more than 48 hours before the start of the treatment), the treatment cost will not be changed, and will be deleyed till as per your request. If you intend to postpone the treatment, you must do so on written only. There may be some additional cost for consultation or pre-treatment appointment, depend on the lenght from the initial day of treatment till the day you want to be.
What security and guarantees do I have?
When booking the treatment with us all medical treatment are fully insured against possible complications and unforeseen contingencies. The additional treatment costs will be covered by the insurance covered and paid by The Zdenko Kos Foundation.
How is my personal data managed?
The Kos Foundation is a Data Controller therefore rest assured that your personal data and all material you submit over our link along with all medical history with us will be protected according to current regulations and legislation, using advanced security technologies. Medical history will not be disclosed to any 3rd party even to your GP without your special written permission.
Check list for inpatient and outpatient
When you pack your bag for your hospital stay, the following things should not be missing:
For your record
- Referral certificate from the general practitioner or specialist
- Health insurance card
For your treatment
- Medicines in original packaging that you take at home
- Current preliminary findings, such as X-rays, CT/MRI, ECG or EEG, blood tests, etc.
- Doctor's Letters
- If available, living will and power of attorney
- If available: allergy passport, vaccination certificate, X-ray passport, diabetic card, blood group card
For your stay
- Your aids (e.g. wheelchair, walker, walking stick, glasses, hearing aid)
- Comfortable clothing
- Towels
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- To pass the time: books, magazines, MP3 player with headphones
- Contact details of relatives and friends
Please be aware:
When you get your inpatient admission appointment, please clarify whether you have to appear fasting on the day of admission.
Valuables
If possible, please do not bring any valuables with you, as you are liable for losses. For indispensable valuables, e.g. Your watch or wallet, you will find a small safe deposit box in the closet of your patient room in the Surgery I Dermatology and in the Psychosomatics department. In internal medicine, there is a dispensing point.
How are the visiting hours regulated?
Visitors are not only welcome to us but are also of huge importance for our patients!
Doesn’t matter with which hospital we are working with you are booking there are variable visiting hours, as well as special visiting hours which are not for regular patients visits. Once you are admitted the care team will give you all the details about visiting hours. There are also alternative that your partner (husband/wife) stay with you during the treatment. Such accommodation is available nearly in all hospitals we are working with. For such accommodation additional charges applies.
There are separate visiting hours for intensive care units while parents of young patients in the children's area have unlimited visiting hours.
Visitors are asked to be considerate of patients and fellow patients. If necessary, the nursing staff of that hospital where you are staying, will point out the necessary rest periods for patients who have just undergone surgery
Where can I reach pastoral care?
All hospitals we are working with offer pastoral care for at the Protestant and Catholic hospital chaplaincy for patients and relatives. For all other religions you will be informed by the care team at that particular hospital on the day of your admission.
What help and counselling services are available?
Doesn’t matter which hospital we are working with you choose, you will be given supports with various counselling services and support services, such as the Social Counselling Service, Psychosomatic consultation service, Special offers for cancer patients, Clinic chaplaincy, Services of other religious communities, Art therapy, Self-help, Hospice and much more.
How can I contact social services?
The Social Counselling Service can advise you on topics such as rehabilitation, post-discharge care, social law, psychosocial care and many other matters. You will get special overview with information and contact details from consultant and care team in the hospital where you start your treatment.
Inpatient stay: How is admission made?
Registration and admission for an inpatient stay
If you have made an appointment for an inpatient stay in cooperation with The Zdenko Kos Foundation, you will first be "admitted" to hospital of your choice upon arrival. This means that we record your data and inform you about your hospital stay.
Please ask exactly where you should travel when making an appointment. The Zdenko Kos Foundation has several locations and consists of many individual clinics.
An overview of the parking facilities at the clinic locations will be provided once you identify the hospital you would like to be admitted to.
When you get your inpatient admission appointment, please clarify whether you have to appear fasting on the day of admission.
What should be considered when discharging?
Your attending physician has decided that you will be discharged from the hospital. This means that you will either be discharged directly to your home or still need follow-up treatment, which will be carried out on an outpatient or inpatient basis in another clinic or rehabilitation facility. For both situations, you will get full information before discharged date.
What do the General Terms and Conditions of Contract regulate?
Accepting services of The Zdenko Kos Foundation, you are not accepting just our Terms & Conditions but also for the period of your entire treatment or stay doesn’t matter which hospital we are working with, the hospital GTCs and the house rules of that hospital in their respective valid versions which you can see and read on hospital websites directly.
