Can Hepatitis Be Considered the Leading Cause of Liver Cancer?
The rising cases of liver cancer form a major health concern. However, there are several causes of cancer, but chronic hepatitis B and C are recognized as the leading causes of liver cancer.
Chronic hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver cells that triggers a series of events, trapping the organ in a viscous cycle of tissue repair and inflammation.
Quick Facts About Liver Cancer
- • Liver cancer is the 3rd leading cancer worldwide.
- • Hepatitis B causes liver cancer without cirrhosis.
- • The rising incidence of Fatty liver (NAFLD/NASH) is the subsequent reason for liver cancer.
- • It’s often asymptomatic, diagnosed at later stages.
- • Most common in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Understanding Symptoms and causes of liver cancer
What is Liver Cancer?
The uncontrolled growth of abnormal liver cells is called liver cancer.
Types of Liver Cancer:
- • Metastatic Cancer – The cancer that has spread from other cancers in the body to the liver is not liver cancer.
- • Primary Liver Cancer – The most common type of liver cancer that begins in the liver cells is hepatocellular cancer.
Stages of Liver Cancer
- Stage 1: Small-sized tumor that has not spread to nearby blood vessels.
- Stage 2: The rapidly growing and spreading tumor.
- Stage 3A: One or more tumors are formed, and one of them has spread to the major blood vessels near the liver.
- Stage 3B: The tumor extended to different organs nearby.
- Stage 3C: The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
- Stage 4: The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body – bones, lungs.
Early Signs of Liver Cancer
- • Extensive weight loss
- • Loss of appetite
- • Pain in the abdomen and swelling
- • Jaundice
- • Tiredness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Yellowish urine and skin
Causes of Liver Cancer
Chronic Hepatitis B and C– Viral hepatitis, when untreated, severely damages the liver, causing liver cancer.
Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver – The excess fat deposition in the liver causes tissue injury and liver inflammation.
Cirrhosis – The tissue scar that extends in size and replaces the healthy liver cells.
Genetic disorder – Autoimmune liver disease, liver cell damage.
Intake of steroids – Long-term use of anabolic steroids leads to liver toxicity and malignant transformations.
Who is at Risk of Liver Cancer?
People with chronic hepatitis B and C viral hepatitis- when left untreated for a long time, because chronic inflammation that leads to tissue injury.
People with excessive alcohol consumption- excessive alcohol causes fat deposition in the liver, causing liver tissue injury and inflammation.
Patients having cirrhosis- it is an irreversible stage of liver damage, which can lead to cancer.
Obesity- overweight progresses to excess fat deposits in the liver, causing NASH or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Type -2 diabetes (metabolic disorders)
Male over 50- it is more common in elderly men due to changes in hormones and lifestyle.
Autoimmune liver disease – Autoimmune hepatitis can cause severe liver damage, increasing the risk of cancer.
Family history of liver cancer- genetic risk of liver cancer increases if the family has an incidence of liver cancer.
Treatment for Liver Cancer
- • Surgical removal of the tumor
- • Targeted anticancer therapy
- • Chemotherapy
- • Immunotherapy
- • Liver transplant
Aprazer Healthcare, global pharmaceutical leaders in liver care produce a large range of hepatoprotective medicines, innovative antivirals and targeted anticancer medicines, ranging from liver cancer to blood cancer.
At Aprazer, we ensure quality without compromise, powered by our WHO-GMP certified manufacturing facilities.
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