How can liver cancer be prevented?

Liver cancer is a life-threatening disease, but many risk factors can be managed to lower the chances of developing it. You can protect your liver and overall well-being by making healthy lifestyle choices and taking preventive steps. 

Vaccination against hepatitis B, managing hepatitis C, limiting alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding harmful substances like aflatoxins and tobacco are all key strategies. 

Regular screenings and a liver-friendly diet further contribute to long-term liver health. In this guide, we’ll explore the causes, risk factors, and effective ways to reduce your risk of liver cancer.

In this article

Your liver is one of the most important organs in your body. It helps clean your blood, store energy, and process nutrients. Liver cancer happens when unhealthy cells in the liver grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor.

There are different types of liver cancer, but hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common. Another type includes bile duct cancer, which starts in the tiny tubes that carry bile, a substance that helps digest food. 

Liver cancer is a serious disease. Experts say it’s one of the fastest-growing types of cancer worldwide. It’s also the third leading cause of cancer deaths. This is often because the disease doesn’t show symptoms early, so people notice it only when it’s harder to treat. 

→ Major Causes & Risk Factors 

Lots of things can raise the chances of getting liver cancer. These are called risk factors, and some are more preventable than others. 

1. Hepatitis B & C Infections 

Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) are viruses that attack your liver. Having one of these infections for a long time can inflame your liver and cause scarring, called cirrhosis.

This scarring can later turn into liver cancer. But don’t worry—both viruses can be prevented or treated. There’s a vaccine for Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C can usually be cured with modern medicine. 

Practical Tip: If you’ve never been tested for Hepatitis B or C, talk to your doctor about it, especially if you were born in a place where these infections are common or you’ve had certain medical procedures. 

2. Alcohol Consumption & Liver Damage 

Drinking a lot of alcohol over many years can harm your liver. It can lead to cirrhosis, which, as mentioned earlier, increases the chances of liver cancer. Once your liver is scarred, its ability to repair itself gets weaker, making it more prone to cancer over time. 

Practical Tip: If you drink, try to follow these guidelines for safer consumption. Men shouldn’t have more than 2 drinks per day, and women shouldn’t have more than 1. It’s also a good idea to take breaks from alcohol to give your liver some rest. 

3. Obesity & Fatty Liver Disease 

Carrying too much weight can lead to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD for short. This happens when fat builds up in liver cells. If not managed, NAFLD can progress into more serious conditions like cirrhosis or even liver cancer. 

Practical Tip: Eating healthy and staying active can help lower your risk. Small changes, like swapping chips for fresh fruit or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, add up over time. 

4. Exposure to Aflatoxins 

Have you heard of aflatoxins? They’re harmful substances made by a type of mold that grows on improperly stored grains, nuts, and other foods. Eating contaminated food for a long time can increase your chances of getting liver cancer. 

Practical Tip: Store your food in dry, clean conditions to keep mold away. Check for unusual smells or colors, especially in grains and nuts, and don’t eat food that looks spoiled. 

5. Genetic & Hereditary Factors 

Sometimes, liver cancer runs in families because of inherited conditions like hemochromatosis, which causes the body to store too much iron, or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which affects liver cells. 

Practical Tip: If someone in your family has had liver cancer, tell your doctor. They may recommend special tests to check your risk. 

6. Smoking & Environmental Toxins 

Smoking not only harms your lungs but also increases your risk of liver cancer. And exposure to chemicals such as vinyl chloride (used in plastics) or arsenic (sometimes found in water) can damage the liver over time. 

Practical Tip: If you smoke, start looking into tools to help you quit. And try to drink clean, filtered water to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.

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