Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors can help prevent cancer
Avoiding cancer risk factors (such as smoking, being overweight, and lack of exercise) can help prevent some cancers from occurring, and increasing protective factors (such as quitting smoking and physical activity), can prevent some cancers from occurring. Ask your doctor or other professional what you can do to reduce your risk of cancer.
Chronic hepatitis B and C are risk factors for liver cancer, and chronic infection with hepatitis B is the leading cause of liver cancer in China.
Chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C increases the risk of developing liver cancer. The risk of liver cancer is higher in people with co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), combined with other risk factors. Men infected with HBV or HCV are more likely to develop liver cancer than women.
Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is the leading cause of liver cancer in Asian and African populations. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is the leading cause of liver cancer in North American, European, and Japanese populations.
The following are other risk factors for liver cancer
Cirrhosis
Patients with cirrhosis, a disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, are at increased risk of developing liver cancer. Scar tissue blocks blood flow to the liver, preventing the liver from working properly. Chronic alcoholism and chronic hepatitis are common causes of cirrhosis. Patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis have a higher risk of developing liver cancer compared to patients with hepatitis B and alcohol-drinking-related cirrhosis.
Heavy drinking
Heavy drinking can lead to cirrhosis, which is a risk factor for liver cancer. Liver cancer can also occur in excessive drinkers without cirrhosis. Excessive drinkers with cirrhosis are 10 times more likely to develop liver cancer than excessive drinkers without cirrhosis.
Studies have shown that people with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection who drink heavily also have an increased risk of developing liver cancer.
Aflatoxin B1
Consuming foods containing aflatoxin B1 increases the risk of liver cancer (aflatoxin B1 is a toxin produced by a fungus that can grow on foods such as corn and nuts stored in hot, humid places). It is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and China.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a disease that can lead to cirrhosis, which can lead to liver cancer. NASH is the most severe form of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD) with abnormal levels of fat in the liver. For some people, this can lead to inflammation and liver cell damage.
Cirrhosis associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis can increase the risk of liver cancer. Liver cancer has been found in people with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) who do not have cirrhosis.
Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of liver cancer, and the more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the higher the risk of liver cancer.
Other diseases
Some rare diseases and genetic disorders also increase the risk of liver cancer. These diseases include:
The following protective factors may reduce the risk of liver cancer:
Hepatitis B vaccine
Prevention of hepatitis B virus infection (hepatitis B vaccination at birth) has been shown to reduce the risk of liver cancer in children. It is not known whether vaccination can reduce the risk of liver cancer in adults.
Treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Treatment options for people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection include interferon and nucleoside (acid) analogue (NA) therapy. These treatments may reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.
Reducing aflatoxin B1 exposure
Avoiding foods with high levels of aflatoxin B1 and choosing foods that do not contain aflatoxin B1 may reduce the risk of liver cancer.
Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study how to prevent cancer.
Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study how to reduce the risk of developing certain cancers. Some cancer prevention clinical trials are conducted in healthy or high-risk populations. Some cancer prevention trials are conducted in people who already have cancer to prevent the same type of cancer from coming back or to reduce the likelihood of getting a new cancer. Some trials are conducted in healthy volunteers, and it is not known whether these volunteers have risk factors for cancer development.
The goal of clinical trials in cancer prevention is to confirm whether the measures people take can prevent cancer. This may include consuming fruits and vegetables, exercising, quitting smoking or taking certain medications, vitamins, minerals, or food supplements.
New ways to prevent liver cancer that are being studied in clinical trials.
Information about NCI-supported clinical trials can be found on the NCI Clinical Trials Search page. Information on clinical trials supported by other organizations can be found on the ClinicalTrials.gov website.