The combination of risk factors may increase liver cancer development. Being aware of risk factors can help prevent the disease early, which is the leading cause of death from cancer.
Race and sex
Asians and the Pacific islands have more liver cancer than people of other races. Liver cancer is more common in men than women.
Hepatitis B
Chronic hepatitis B is a major risk factor for developing liver cancer and is the leading cause of liver cancer in Africa and Asia. Research shows that people with chronic hepatitis B have a 100 times higher risk of developing liver cancer than people without the disease.
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis C is also a major risk factor for the development of liver cancer. When hepatitis C is detected and treated with antiviral drugs, the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer can be significantly reduced.
Liver cancer is a fairly common disease and has a low survival rate if it is not detected and treated promptly.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition similar to alcoholic liver disease, but leads to the accumulation of fat in the liver and the formation of fatty liver by a different mechanism. It is an autoimmune disease and may have a genetic predisposition. With NAFLD, the risk of liver cancer increases. Metabolic syndrome is closely related to NAFLD, which may also be a risk factor for liver cancer.
Immunosuppression
Immunosuppression increases the risk of liver cancer, as well as other cancers. Organ transplant recipients have a double risk of developing liver cancer compared to the general population, and the risk is even higher for those who have had a liver transplant. Being infected with HIV / AIDS is linked to a five-fold higher risk of developing liver cancer.
Systemic lupus erythematosus
The reason is not conclusively conclusive, but people with systemic lupus are twice as likely to develop liver cancer.
Diabetes mellitus
People with diabetes are at risk of developing liver cancer 2-3 times higher than the general population. It is of concern that the antidiabetic drug Glucophage (metformin) may reduce this risk.
Chemical exposure and occupational hazards
Exposure to certain chemicals has been linked to the development of liver cancer. One exposure that the community may experience is arsenic in well water. Occupational exposures are also of concern, including exposure to substances such as vinyl chloride (found in plastics), acrylamide, PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid (found in dry cleaning methods), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), perfluorinated (PFC), benzo pyrene (BaP) and trichlorethylene.
Sclerosing cholangitis
Sclerosing cholangitis causes inflammation and scarring of the biliary tract, which causes bile to flow back into the liver. About 10-15% of people with sclerosing cholangitis develop biliary tract cancer.
Exposure to aflatoxin
This is an important risk factor in many countries. Aflatoxin B1 is a fungal toxin (of the genus Aspergillus) produced on foods such as wheat, peanuts, soybeans and corn. This toxin causes damage to the p53 gene in liver cells – a tumor suppressor gene that helps repair damaged DNA and inhibits the growth of harmful cells. Ongoing research is underway to investigate whether aflatoxin spontaneously causes liver cancer or is a cofactor when combined with hepatitis B disease.
Genetics
Liver cancer has a family inherited factor. If a relative has liver cancer, it will increase the risk of the disease. The risk is highest when a relative who is a parent or sibling has liver cancer.
Lifestyle risk factors
Lifestyle factors are very important in the development of liver cancer. These are risk factors you can adjust and control.
Long-term and excessive use of alcohol: Excessive alcohol use, over a long period of time, can cause a number of liver diseases, including alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease. Over time, cirrhosis develops with a marked scarring of the liver parenchyma and leads to liver failure. Liver cancer is mainly related to drinking more alcohol or drinking more than 3 drinks per day, although less intake can still cause liver disease and cannot be reversed. Acute alcohol intoxication, although not associated with liver cancer in the short term, may increase the risk of hepatitis B or C-related behaviors.
Tobacco smoke: Smoking is a risk factor for many cancers, and liver cancer is no exception. Several studies show a link between smoking and liver cancer, and people who smoke and drink a lot are at a significantly higher risk of developing the disease. Children born to parents who smoke before or during pregnancy are at risk for a rare type of liver cancer called hepatoblastoma.
Obesity: The role of obesity in liver cancer is not conclusive, but obesity increases the risk of developing non-alcoholic liver disease, and the condition quadruple the risk. muscle of liver cancer, as well as a 3-fold increase in risk of diabetes mellitus.
Use of anabolic steroids: Anabolic steroids are substances used by weightlifters and bodybuilders to build muscle, and are considered a risk factor for liver disease and liver cancer.
Other risk factors
There may be some radiation-related risk caused by X-rays. The schistosomiasis parasite is being studied for a possible role in liver cancer. Autoimmune hepatitis and gallstones are also risk factors for liver cancer in question.
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