What are the Risk Factors for Liver Cancer?

Top Risk Factors for Liver Cancer: What You Need to Know

Liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma, is a serious health condition. More often than not, it goes undetected until it reaches an advanced stage. Knowing the risk factors helps you detect them early and start treatment.

A risk factor determines the chances of getting a disease, such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. These factors may also sometimes vary from person to person.

What Factors Increase One’s Risk of Liver Cancer? 

Some risk factors are in your control, such as smoking, while others are not. However, you cannot control other risk factors like genetics.

Several factors determine if an individual will get the disease or not. Those are:

Chronic Viral Hepatitis

The most common risk factor for liver cancer all around the world is a chronic infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C. This infection severely damages the liver and is responsible for causing liver cancer, the most common type of cancer.

This virus can spread from person to person through sharing contaminated needles, having unprotected sexual intercourse, or childbirth.

While 90-95% of adults clear HBV acutely, perinatal or childhood infection leads to chronicity in 90% of cases. Chronic HBV drives HCC risk.

However, people infected with Hepatitis C are less likely to develop symptoms. These people become chronic carriers, which increases their likelihood of developing liver cancer.

Cirrhosis

It is a condition in which the liver cells are damaged and replaced by scar tissue. People who have cirrhosis are more likely to develop liver cancer. Multiple studies show that people suffering from liver disease have already seen evidence of cirrhosis.

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Some types of autoimmune disease damage the liver and cause cirrhosis. In return, it significantly increases the risk of developing liver cancer. In this condition, your liver's bile ducts are damaged, increasing the chance of a tumour.

Metabolic Dysfunction Associated with Steatotic Liver Disease

It is a common condition in which fat builds up in the liver. This is more common in people who are obese. These people may also go on to develop cirrhosis later in their lives.

Overconsumption of Alcohol

Heavy alcohol use is one of the many reasons why people develop liver cancer. Chronic consumption of alcohol can damage the liver and hinder its function. Therefore, if you are struggling with alcohol, seek help and quit.

Increased Tobacco Use

People who are addicted to smoking or who smoke are susceptible to developing cancer. People who used to smoke but have now left are at a lower risk of developing cancer, but the risk remains.

Certain Rare Diseases

Many rare diseases also contribute to cancerous conditions. They are Tyrosinemia, alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, Acute intermittent porphyria and porphyria cutanea tarda. Others include glycogen storage diseases and Wilson’s disease.

Sex of the Person

It has been found that men have a higher tendency to develop liver cancer than women.

Thus, it is crucial to note that liver cancer does not happen overnight. It develops due to several factors that increase the chances of developing this disease.

If you have one or more of these conditions, you should talk to your doctor about early detection strategies and minimise the risks.