Liver Cancer - Related to Hepatitis B Carrier State?

Liver cancer refers to either primary liver cancer, that is cancer originating from the liver cells or supporting cells in the liver, or secondary liver cancer, that is cancer that has spread to the liver from the surrounding organs, usually via the blood that drains those organs and flow through the liver. In this article we shall confine ourselves to primary liver cancer, also referred to as hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver cancer is one of the more commonly occurring cancers in the world, being the fifth most common cancer in men and the eighth most common cancer in women. The total number of new cases diagnosed is estimated to be about 500,000 every year. Men seem to be twice as likely as women to get liver cancer.

What could cause this problem?

The incidence of liver cancer seems to be higher in certain countries. Studies appear to indicate a positive relationship between the incidence of liver cancer and that of hepatitis B virus carrier states as well as hepatitis C virus infections. The risk of a hepatitis B carrier developing liver cancer is about 60 times higher than that of a non hepatitis B carrier. This risk appears to be even higher than the risk of a smoker developing lung cancer (about 20 to 25 times).

What countries have a higher incidence of hepatitis B carrier states? It is observed that certain countries seem to have a much higher incidence of hepatitis B carriers. One case in point is Taiwan, where it is noted that an abnormally high 20% of pregnant mothers were discovered to be carriers of hepatitis B. This compares significantly to the incidence of 1% in the United States. Similar studies show a higher incidence of hepatitis B carrier rates in South-East Asian countries, between 10% to 15%. This has led to the postulation that Oriental persons are genetically less able to overcome the hepatitis B virus. This observation is supported by another observation, that the conversion rates to immunisation with hepatitis B vaccine is lower in Chinese as compared with other races.

Studies also show that the incidence of new cases of primary liver cancer has decreased significantly in those countries where there has been a deliberate effort to immunise persons to hepatitis B with hepatitis B vaccine. This is one of the rare situations where there is a demonstrable cause/effect relationship, and where there is definite proof that a particular cancer can be prevented, by both vaccination and by screening of blood and blood products for hepatitis B and C viruses.

Other risk factors or suspected causes of liver cancer need to be mentioned here. They are:

Liver Cirrhosis. A situation of scarring of the liver due to chronic damage as a result commonly of heavy drinking. There is a slight increase of risk of liver cancer developing.

Inherited causes. Persons with hemochromatosis, a genetic problem of excess iron deposits in the body have a higher chance of developing liver cancer.

Aflatoxin. A mold found in bad peanuts and grain is a well known culprit in the formation of liver cancer.

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Are You At Risk Of Developing Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer is somewhat unusual because it is generally the result of metastasis, as opposed to native cancerous cells. This means that when someone gets liver cancer, it was the result of cancerous cells from another part of the body, say, the colorectal system, spreading from there into the liver. Whether they began there or migrated there, liver cancer cells grow in the form of tumors, sometimes reaching large sizes.

The liver itself is quite large, one of the largest organs. Located in between the diaphragm and stomach, it is a vital organ that provides numerous functions for the human body. It stores glycogen, synthesizes proteins, and, perhaps most famously, detoxifies the bloodstream. It also has many other roles to play like being a main cog in the digestive system.

With all of its functions tied to key systems in the body, it is no wonder that when cancer strikes, the symptoms are more often than not of the specific type. Two of the most common are jaundice and abdominal pains, but unexpected loss of weight and fever may occur also. Actually, the set of symptoms one experiences is mostly determined by the exact diagnosis from the doctor.

There are four main types of liver cancer that are seen most often: heptocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma, angiosarcoma. Each of these subtypes will effect a different type of cell in the organ. Heptocellular carcinoma is found the most often while angiosarcoma is the more rare yet deadly, because of its aggressive nature.

So what causes liver cancer? It is not completely certain but there are definite risk factors that can put you at a greater chance of developing liver cancer at some point in your lifetime. One of these factors is hepatitis infection. These viruses attack the liver and prolonged exposure can lead to cancer. Another risk factor is diabetes. It has been shown that people with diabetes are much more likely to develop tumors in their liver than people without diabetes.

The risk factor that will probably surprise no one is alcohol consumption. We know that the liver detoxifies the blood, and that includes removing alcohol. Too much alcohol consumption (along with other factors) can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a state which not only permanently impairs your liver's ability to function but also makes it much more susceptible to cancer.

The best way to avoid it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and watch out for the risk factors listed above. If you notice any of the symptoms arising you may want to see a doctor. They can conduct various non-invasive tests such as blood work or imaging, and if they feel it necessary, a biopsy may be performed. After a biopsy, further tests may be conducted in order to determine the exact state of the cancer so that treatment can be tailored to do the most good.

There are a number of different treatments available. The situation will mostly depend on factors such as the age and health of the patient, and of course, how far along the disease is.

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