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General Information About Liver (Hepatocellular) Cancer
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Liver cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells
form in the tissues of the liver.
The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It has four lobes and fills the upper right side of the abdomen inside the rib cage. The liver has many important functions, including:
- Filtering harmful substances from the blood so they can be passed from the body in stools and urine.
- Making bile to help digest fats from food.
- Storing glycogen (sugar), which the body uses for energy.
See the following PDQ summaries for more information about liver (hepatocellular) cancer:
Liver cancer is not common in the United States.
Liver cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world, but is uncommon in the United States. In the United States, men, especially Chinese American men, have an increased risk of developing liver cancer. People are usually older than 40 years when they develop this cancer.
Finding and treating liver cancer early may prevent death from liver cancer. There is no routine effective screening test for liver cancer.
Being infected with certain viruses can cause hepatitis and increase the risk of liver cancer.
Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation (swelling) of the liver. Damage to the liver that lasts a long time can increase the risk of liver cancer. Hepatitis is most commonly caused by a group of viruses called the hepatitis viruses:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by eating food or drinking water infected with hepatitis A virus. It does not lead to chronic disease. Almost everyone who has hepatitis A gets better.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is caused by contact with the blood, semen, or other body fluid of a person infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a serious infection that can cause liver damage, which may lead to cancer. Blood banks test all donated blood for hepatitis B, which greatly lowers the risk of getting the virus from blood transfusions.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is caused by contact with the blood, semen, or other body fluid of a person infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C can cause liver damage, which may lead to cancer. Most people who have hepatitis C develop cirrhosis of the liver. Blood banks test all donated blood for hepatitis C, which greatly lowers the risk of getting the virus from blood transfusions.
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D develops in people already infected with hepatitis B. It is caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV) and is spread through contact with infected blood or dirty needles, or by having unprotected sex with a person infected with HDV. Hepatitis D causes swelling of the liver.
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E can be spread through oral- anal contact or by drinking infected water. Hepatitis E is rare in the United States.
Hepatitis G
Being infected with the hepatitis G virus has not been shown to cause liver cancer.
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