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Risk Factors
It may be too late to change some of your risky personal behaviors, so try to change the ones you can. Talk with your doctor about whether some of your risks can be checked and treated early before they develop into something more serious. Click below for more information.
- Infection with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C
- Heavy alcohol use
- Having cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver
- Having hemochromatosis, an iron storage disease
- Unprotected sex
- Sharing unsterilized needles
- Being obese
- Having diabetes
- Taking immunosuppressive medications, drugs typically taken by people who have had an organ transplant to avoid organ rejection.
The average age at the onset of liver cancer is 63 years in the U. S. Men are more likely to develop liver cancer than women, by a ratio of 2 to 1.
Signs And Symptoms
Unfortunately, most people don’t have signs and symptoms in the early stages of Liver cancer. The following symptoms of liver cancer will sometimes mimic those of other conditions, including digestive and gynecological disorders. With digestive disorders though, they tend to come and go. With gynecological cancers the symptoms are constant and will gradually worsen. Check with a health professional if you experience any of the following symptoms described below, especially if they persist.
When a sign or symptom of liver cancer does appear, it may be one of the following:
- Losing weight without trying
- Loss of appetite
- Upper abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- General weakness and fatigue
- Abdominal swelling
- Yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- White, chalky stools
New Evidence About Liver Cancer
Early Detection And Prevention
Cancer.Net reports there is increasing evidence that certain medications and anti-viral treatments for chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infections can reduce the inflammation and damage they can cause in the liver. This is likely to have a positive impact on liver cancer prevention, particularly if taken before cirrhosis develops.
Also, a study by researchers at UT Southwestern’s Simmons Cancer Center found that ultrasound imaging in combination with a blood test for alpha fetoprotein (AFP) could improve the detection of early-stage liver cancer by 40%.
By becoming aware of and changing some of your habits, you have control over some of the risks of liver cancer. Talking with your health professional is a good next step to take, to discuss if your personal risks would benefit from the information above.
Reduce Your Chances Of Getting Liver Cancer
Protect yourself from hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus
Infections. Chronic infection with these viruses increases your risk for liver cancer.
Reduce risks by practicing a healthy life style:
Resources: mskcc.org, Mayoclinic.org
Frequently Asked Questions
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Catching any disease early allows for more successful treatment options. We’ll share what we’ve researched and learned to date about some new findings concerning liver cancer early detection. Read more
Familiarize yourself with some of the actions you may be doing, that can put you at risk for liver cancer. Knowing them can help reduce the chances of being diagnosed with this deadly disease. Read more
Most people don’t have signs and symptoms of liver cancer and when they do they can often mimic other diseases. For this reason, it’s important to become familiar with the possible signs and symptoms. Read more
Besides protecting yourself from hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections, practice these six healthy lifestyle habits. Read more
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