Risk Factors
When you get a diagnosis of cancer, it's natural to
wonder what may have caused the disease. Doctors
can't always explain why one person gets liver cancer
and another doesn't. However, we do know that people
with certain risk factors may be more likely than others
to develop liver cancer. A risk factor is something that
may increase the chance of getting a disease.
Studies have found the following risk factors for
liver cancer:
- Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis
C virus (HCV): Liver cancer can develop after
many years of infection with either of these viruses.
Around the world, infection with HBV or HCV is
the main cause of liver cancer.
HBV and HCV can be passed from person to person
through blood (such as by sharing needles) or sexual
contact. An infant may catch these viruses from an
infected mother. Although HBV and HCV infections
are contagious diseases, liver cancer is not. You
can't catch liver cancer from another person.
HBV and HCV infections may not cause symptoms,
but blood tests can show whether either virus is
present. If so, the doctor may suggest treatment.
Also, the doctor may discuss ways to avoid
infecting other people.
In people who are not already infected with HBV,
hepatitis B vaccine can prevent HBV infection.
Researchers are working to develop a vaccine to
prevent HCV infection.
- Heavy alcohol use: Having more than two drinks of
alcohol each day for many years increases the risk
of liver cancer and certain other cancers. The risk
increases with the amount of alcohol that a person
drinks.
- Aflatoxin: Liver cancer can be caused by aflatoxin,
a harmful substance made by certain types of mold.
Aflatoxin can form on peanuts, corn, and other nuts
and grains. In parts of Asia and Africa, levels of
aflatoxin are high. However, the United States has
safety measures limiting aflatoxin in the food
supply.
- Iron storage disease: Liver cancer may develop
among people with a disease that causes the body to
store too much iron in the liver and other organs.
- Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis is a serious disease that
develops when liver cells are damaged and replaced
with scar tissue. Many exposures cause cirrhosis,
including HBV or HCV infection, heavy alcohol
use, too much iron stored in the liver, certain drugs,
and certain parasites. Almost all cases of liver
cancer in the United States occur in people who first
had cirrhosis, usually resulting from hepatitis B or C
infection, or from heavy alcohol use.
- Obesity and diabetes: Studies have shown that
obesity and diabetes may be important risk factors
for liver cancer.
The more risk factors a person has, the greater the
chance that liver cancer will develop. However, many
people with known risk factors for liver cancer don't
develop the disease.
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