Liver cancer is the 13th most common type of cancer in the US and more than 40,000 people a year are diagnosed with this disease, according to Cancer Health. It is also the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the US and ranks second worldwide.
It mostly occurs in people over 60 years old and usually affects Asians and Pacific Islanders among the US population, followed by Latinos and African Americans due to the high prevalence of the number one risk factor of the disease. Read on to learn the top risk factor that causes liver cancer.
Liver Cancer Common Risk Factors
According to Mayo Clinic, liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver, an organ that sits in the upper right portion of the abdomen just below the diaphragm and above the stomach.
There are several types of liver cancer, including the most common type called hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the hepatocyte. Meanwhile, other types that are less common include intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma.
Anyone can develop liver cancer, but those with the most common types of risk factors have a higher chance of getting one. These risk factors include the irreversible and progressive conditions like cirrhosis, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, exposure to aflatoxins, excessive alcohol consumption, and certain inherited liver disease like hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease.
Aside from these common risk factors, experts also emphasized its number one risk factor caused by a certain virus.
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Number One Risk Factor of Liver Cancer
Experts from the American Cancer Society (ACS) explain that the number one risk factor of liver cancer that surpasses others is chronic infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 65% of all liver cancer cases in the country are related to hepatitis B or C and almost 50% of them are attributable to hepatitis C alone.
People could be exposed to hepatitis B or C in many ways, such as containing contaminated needles, having unprotected sex, and childbirth. These viruses can be spread from one person to another, so it is advisable to avoid sharing needles and practice safe sex.
On the other hand, ACS noted that blood transfusions are no longer considered a significant risk of transmission in the US, unlike before. The risk of getting hepatitis infection today from a blood transfusion is extremely low.
Get Vaccinated
The CDC says that hepatitis infection is preventable through vaccination. That is why all children and adults up to 59 years old are advised to get vaccinated against HBV. For now, a vaccine for hepatitis C is not yet available, but there are treatments that could cure it in over 85% of the cases.
The CDC report says that hepatitis C can slowly and silently damage the liver, which may lead to cancer. Therefore, managing it could slash the chances of developing liver cancer by 75%.
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