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Liver Cancer Awareness Month

October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of this deadly cancer and its risk factors. Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer death. It is estimated that over 800,000 people will die from liver cancer in 2023.

What is liver cancer? Liver cancer is a cancer that begins in the liver. The liver is a large organ located in the upper right abdomen. It has many important functions, including filtering toxins from the blood, digesting food, and storing energy. There are several different types of liver cancer, but the most common type is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC accounts for about 70-80% of all liver cancers. Other types of liver cancer include cholangiocarcinoma, which begins in the bile ducts, and angiosarcoma, which begins in the blood vessels of the liver. What are the risk factors for liver cancer? There are a number of risk factors for liver cancer, including: • Chronic hepatitis B or C infection • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) • Alcoholic liver disease • Cirrhosis of the liver • Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) • Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) • Diabetes • Obesity • Smoking • Excessive alcohol consumption • Certain medications • Exposure to aflatoxins, which are toxins produced by certain types of mold What are the symptoms of liver cancer? In the early stages, liver cancer often does not cause any symptoms. However, as the cancer grows, it can cause a variety of symptoms, including: • Upper abdominal pain • Abdominal swelling • Weight loss • Loss of appetite • Fatigue • Nausea and vomiting • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) • Dark urine • Clay-colored stools • Itching • Fever

How is liver cancer diagnosed? Liver cancer is often diagnosed using a combination of tests, including: • Physical exam • Blood tests • Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI scan • Liver biopsy How is liver cancer treated? Treatment for liver cancer depends on a number of factors, including the stage of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and the patient's preferences. Treatment options may include: • Surgery • Liver transplant • Ablation (destruction of the cancer cells) • Embolization (blocking the blood supply to the cancer cells) • Chemotherapy • Radiation therapy • Targeted therapy • Immunotherapy Preventing liver cancer There are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of developing liver cancer: • Get vaccinated against hepatitis B. • Avoid getting hepatitis C. • Maintain a healthy weight. • Eat a healthy diet. • Exercise regularly. • Limit alcohol consumption. • Avoid smoking.

How to get involved in Liver Cancer Awareness Month There are many ways to get involved in Liver Cancer Awareness Month: • Learn more about liver cancer and its risk factors. • Talk to your friends and family about liver cancer. • Donate to a liver cancer research or support organization. • Participate in a liver cancer awareness event. Here are some specific ideas for how you can get involved in Liver Cancer Awareness Month: • Host a liver cancer awareness event. This could be anything from a small gathering of friends and family to a larger community event. At your event, you could provide information about liver cancer, its risk factors, and its prevention. You could also raise money for liver cancer research or support organizations. • Start a liver cancer awareness campaign. This could involve creating and distributing flyers, posters, or social media posts about liver cancer. You could also talk to local media outlets about covering liver cancer awareness. • Volunteer with a liver cancer research or support organization. There are many liver cancer organizations that rely on volunteers to help them with their work. You could volunteer to help with fundraising, event planning, or outreach. • Donate to a liver cancer research or support organization. Your donation can help to fund important liver cancer research or provide support to liver cancer patients and their families. No matter how you choose to get involved, your participation can help to raise awareness of liver cancer and save lives.