Liver cancer rates have doubled since 1980, and the death rate has tripled. The good news is: Most liver cancers are preventable through healthy lifestyle changes. Get to know the risk factors so you can take steps to stay well and prevent this increasingly common cancer.
Understand your risk
When was the last time you thought about your liver? If you’re like most people, probably not that often! We don’t pay much attention to our liver but, it is one of our most vital organs.
The liver is a football-sized organ located under your ribs. It processes drugs, nutrients, toxins and supports digestion. Liver cells can become damaged through alcohol or drug use, an unhealthy diet and infections. These lifestyle behaviors can also cause other diseases that usually develop before liver cancer.
“Most diseases that damage your liver also increase your risk for liver cancer,” says Michael Ney, M.D., a board-certified, fellowship-trained gastroenterologist with Riverside Gastroenterology Specialists. “If you have cirrhosis, fatty liver or viral hepatitis, you are at particularly high risk for liver cancer.”
Having any of these conditions puts you at higher risk of liver cancer:
- Cirrhosis – scarring of the liver tissue
- Diabetes – an inability of the body to control blood sugar
- Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease – excessive fat stored in liver cells
- Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis - excessive fat stored in liver cells with inflammation of the liver
- Alcohol Abuse – excessive alcohol consumption
- Hemochromatosis – an iron storage disorder
- Obesity – having excess body fat
- Viral Hepatitis B or C – a viral infection that causes inflammation and damage to the liver
In addition to diagnosed conditions, several risky behaviors also increase your chance of liver cancer. These include:
- Unprotected sex
- Sharing needles
- Using tobacco
- Anabolic steroid use
Take action to prevent liver cancer
You can prevent liver cancer, even if you have a condition that puts you at high risk. First, talk to your doctor about any current health problems to help manage your condition and make sure you are on the right track. Then take stock of your daily habits. Simple changes like what you eat and how much you move can make a difference in the health of your liver.
- If you drink, drink in moderation or not at all
- Work towards a healthy body weight
- Increase your exercise through daily movement
- Practice safe sex and don’t share needles
- Give your plate a makeover, add more vegetables, fruits and beans and fewer fried foods and sweets
- Don’t drink your sugar – opt for unsweetened beverages
Talk to your doctor about liver health.
Learn more about liver cancer detection and treatment.
Get help with alcohol or drugs.
Schedule an appointment to discuss your symptoms or concerns with a health care provider.
