Liver Cancer

It’s not always possible to predict whether someone will develop liver cancer. However, liver cancer is much more likely to happen in patients with certain health problems. We call these “risk factors.”

What causes liver cancer?

In most cases, liver cancer develops in patients who already have liver damage. This damage is also called “cirrhosis.” People who have cirrhosis have scar tissue in their liver that drives inflammation. Over time this can cause cells to die and mutate, leading to cancer.

Certain behaviors can cause cirrhosis, such as drinking too much alcohol. It might also have come from health conditions, such as the viruses hepatitis B or C.

Who is at risk of getting liver cancer?

The risk of liver cancer can increase for a few reasons:

• Lifestyle factors: 
  • Drinking alcohol 
  • Smoking 
  • Not getting enough exercise 
• Health conditions: 
  • Infection with the viruses hepatitis B or C 
  • Having scar tissue in the liver, or cirrhosis 
  • Having excess weight or obesity 
  • Having the genetic condition hemochromatosis, which leads to excess iron in the body 
• Environment: 
  • Exposure to arsenic 

How can I lower my risk of liver cancer?

There a number of steps you can take to lower your risk of liver cancer.

Protecting against hepatitis B and C infection

People contract hepatitis viruses through unprotected sex or sharing needles with other people. People who had blood transfusions before 1992 are also at risk because the blood supply was not screened for hepatitis before that time.

To protect yourself from hepatitis B and C, you can do the following:

• Get vaccinated for hepatitis B 
• Practice safe sex 
• Never share needles 

If you are concerned that you may have hepatitis B or C, talk to your doctor. A blood test will show if you are affected. Then, you can start a treatment plan.

Stop smoking

If you smoke cigarettes or use other forms of tobacco, you are at increased risk of liver cancer. To reduce your risk, it’s important to stop using tobacco as soon as possible.

At Siteman, we understand that quitting tobacco is not easy. That’s why we’ve developed the Tobacco Treatment Program to help people along their journey to a tobacco-free life. We’ll provide you with the support you need to achieve this big goal.

Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with liver cancer, quitting smoking could still help you. Talk to your team, and they can connect you with the right resources right away.

Limit or eliminate alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver. If you choose to drink alcohol, it’s important to limit how much you have.. Men should have no more than two drinks per day. Women should have no more than one. Any more than that could begin to impact your liver and increase other health risks.

If you know that you need to reduce the amount that you drink, or if you want to quit drinking entirely, talk to your doctor. They can help you make a plan to take control.

Focus on good nutrition

Eating a diet high in fat can damage the liver as much as drinking alcohol does. Try to make sure that most of your calories come from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Get some exercise

Even a small amount of exercise can have a big impact. Try get about half an hour of physical activity per day. “Activity” doesn’t necessarily mean something strenuous, like running or biking. Walking, gardening, and housework also count as physical activity. Five minutes of walking or housework here and there can add up to thirty minutes over the course of a day.