Liver Disease and Cancer: Understanding the Link

Your liver has 500 functions, and all of them help keep your body healthy, from filtering toxins to aiding digestion. Your liver impacts every organ system in your body. But if your liver gets damaged over time, especially from chronic liver disease, it can raise your risk for serious complications, including liver cancer.

Liver disease refers to a group of conditions that affect your liver and can negatively impact your liver’s ability to perform those 500+ functions. Liver disease includes hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic fatty liver disease, hemochromatosis, and cirrhosis.

At Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates, LLC, we want you to understand the connection between liver disease and cancer so you can take steps to protect your health.

Here, Dr. Patel and his team explain the connection between liver disease and cancer.

How liver disease can lead to cancer

Chronic liver conditions like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis cause long-term inflammation and scarring in your liver. 

Liver damage affects your liver cells

As the disease progresses, this damage can change how your liver cells grow and function. When cellular growth and function are compromised, it’s more likely for cancerous cells to develop. 

The most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, often occurs in people who already have significant liver damage. Chronic hepatitis B and C are linked to over 70% of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnoses.

Lifestyle habits can contribute to both liver disease and cancer

Liver damage from liver disease isn’t the only cause of liver cancer. Some of the same lifestyle factors that contribute to liver disease also contribute to several kinds of cancer. For example, drinking a lot of alcohol can seriously damage your liver and cause cirrhosis. 

Alcohol also creates harmful chemicals like acetaldehyde and increases stress in liver cells, which can damage DNA and make cancer more likely.

Who is at risk for liver cancer?

You may be at higher risk for liver cancer if you have:

• Chronic hepatitis B or C
• Cirrhosis from alcohol use or fatty liver disease
• A family history of liver cancer
• Diabetes or obesity
• Aflatoxin exposure
• Long-term use of anabolic steroids

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, and most people diagnosed are at least 75 years old, so it’s essential to do what you can to reduce your modifiable risk factors. For example, if you’re overweight, focus on weight management; if you drink alcohol, consider cessation; and if you have diabetes, work on blood sugar management.

What to do to reduce your risk of liver cancer

The most effective way to protect your liver is to address the underlying causes of liver disease, which may include antiviral treatment for hepatitis, lifestyle changes to reduce fatty liver, or medications to control inflammation. 

At Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates, we offer screening, diagnostics, and personalized care plans to help you stay ahead of complications.

If you have a liver condition — or are concerned about your risk — it’s critical to stay connected with your care team.

You can reach the Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates, LLC team at 727-372-4500 or book an appointment through our online scheduling tool to visit our office in Trinity, Florida.