In fact, according to a WHO report, the incidence of liver cancer in China is 25.7 per 100,000, the highest in the world, and accounts for about half of all new cases and deaths worldwide each year.
Are you at risk of developing liver cancer?
Liver cancer is a very risky disease because of its insidious onset, high invasiveness and rapid growth, and most patients are already in advanced stage when they are diagnosed and are not suitable for surgery. How much do you know about this disease?
Frequently asked questions about liver cancer
1. What is the possibility of liver cancer for an ordinary person?
A: It is very unlikely for ordinary people to develop liver cancer, so there is no need to worry too much.
However, if you have liver diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or cirrhosis, you should be especially careful.
As a large country with hepatitis B, 7.18% of the total population in China are carriers of hepatitis B virus. Clinical studies have found that 85% to 90% of liver cancers are related to hepatitis.
Among them, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and hepatitis A are different in that they are more likely to turn into chronic hepatitis, and the recurring attacks of hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis of the liver, which will turn into liver cancer with the migration of time.
2. There are many folk sayings about liver cancer, including anorexia, greasiness, irritability, upper abdominal pain, indigestion, loss of appetite, etc. Are these sayings credible?
A: The liver is the main organ responsible for detoxification, digestion and synthesis of the body, and it has a relatively strong tolerance ability, so it can be called a very “strong” organ.
Generally speaking, unless the tumor in the liver is already very large, there are few symptoms. Many of the legendary symptoms are similar to those of digestive system diseases and cannot be simply judged, but still need to be examined carefully before making a conclusion.
3.Will I get liver cancer if I have hepatitis B?
A: It is very likely. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent hepatitis B.
Vaccination against hepatitis B is the best way to prevent hepatitis B. China started vaccination against hepatitis B in the 1980s, and the incidence rate is generally decreasing, but it will take decades to see significant results. Therefore, special attention should be paid to high-risk groups.
If one is still unfortunate enough to be infected with hepatitis B, it often takes ten or even twenty years from the time of infection to the onset of disease, while hepatitis C is a little shorter.
There are clinical examples of young patients who got hepatitis B from mother-to-child transmission and developed liver cancer in just a few years at the age of teenagers. However, paying attention to standardized treatment of hepatitis B and avoiding bad habits can reduce the possibility of developing into liver cancer.
4.What are the bad habits mentioned above?
The most common ones we all know are like alcoholism, drinking one or two pounds of liquor every day, and such bad eating habits and lifestyle may cause hepatitis and cirrhosis, which may be aggravated if you have hepatitis B or C.
The main way of transmission of hepatitis B and C is blood, like eating together, shaking hands and so on will not spread. But including mother-to-child transmission, blood transfusions, drug use, including to some small informal dental clinics, incomplete sterilization may be transmitted.
In addition, there are some local customs and habits to eat moldy food, and the possibility of liver cancer induced by aflatoxin contamination will be very high.
5.How can I find out if there is any problem in advance?
A: For the general public, it is recommended to have a medical checkup once a year.
However, patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C and cirrhosis caused by some viruses are at high risk of liver cancer, so they should have a medical checkup once every six months.
If liver cancer is found to be highly suspicious but cannot be diagnosed for the time being, imaging and laboratory tests should be done once every three months or so.
Scientific diet and timely medical examination will minimize the risk of liver cancer. In this way, you can choose to go far away to see that bigger world.