Screening
Screening tests can be useful in detecting certain types of cancer at an early stage in people who do not have any symptoms. Researchers have not yet developed a screening test that could successfully find liver cancer in people without any symptoms. As a result, doctors do not recommend routine liver cancer screening for people at average risk of this disease.
However, if you have been diagnosed with cirrhosis (especially if it is so severe that you need to have a liver transplant), hepatitis B or C, or an inherited disease associated with cirrhosis, your doctor will probably recommend that you be screened for liver cancer every 6 to 12 months. This will increase the chance that if you get liver cancer, it will be found at any early stage, when it is easiest to treat successfully. The most common screening tests used for liver cancer in people at high risk are:
-
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test - Fetuses have high levels of AFP in their blood, but this protein usually disappears soon after birth. AFP in the blood of an adult could be a sign of liver or other cancers. If you have cirrhosis, your doctor might check your blood for AFP on a regular basis. However, this test is not perfect. Some liver tumors do not make much AFP and some noncancerous liver diseases can increase AFP levels. Also, by the time AFP levels are high, the tumor has often spread too far or is too big to remove by surgery. For these reasons, AFP blood tests are not used for routine liver cancer screening in people who are not at high risk of the disease.
-
Ultrasound - The doctor glides a small instrument (transducer) over your abdomen. The transducer sends out sound waves that echo off your organs. A computer translates these sound waves into an image on a monitor so that the doctor can see if any masses are growing in your liver. If the doctor sees any masses, he or she can order more tests to find out if they are cancerous.
Prevention
Although scientists have not found a way to prevent liver cancer, they have identified several steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing this disease:
-
Alcohol abuse - In the United States, cirrhosis, which can lead to liver cancer, is usually caused by alcohol abuse. For this reason, it is important to drink only moderate amounts of alcohol (no more than two drinks a day).
-
Body piercing and tattooing - The needles used in body piercing and tattooing are not always sterile, so they can spread hepatitis C. Avoid having these procedures done.
-
Clean needles to inject drugs - The best way to prevent hepatitis C is not to inject yourself with drugs. If you do inject drugs, use a sterile needle and do not share your needle. Contaminated drug paraphernalia causes about half of all cases of hepatitis C in the United States.
-
Hepatitis B and C - Chronic hepatitis B and C infection is the major risk factor for liver cancer, so preventing these diseases reduces liver cancer risk. A vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis B infection. It is recommended for all children and adults at high risk, including people who work in the health care field. Although no vaccine is available for preventing hepatitis C infection, the disease can be prevented by avoiding the behaviors that spread this virus. Specifically, you should avoid using needles that could be contaminated and do not have unprotected sex.
If you have hepatitis B or C, you should take medicine to treat the disease. Certain drugs can cure hepatitis C and, if they are given early, can prevent cirrhosis. Although hepatitis B cannot be cured with current medications, certain drugs can reduce the liver damage caused by this virus. By preventing the hepatitis B or C virus from damaging your liver, you could reduce your chance of getting liver cancer.
- Medications that damage the liver - Certain over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs can damage the liver. Ask your doctor about these medications and avoid them if at all possible. Also, avoid mixing alcohol and certain drugs such as acetaminophen because this combination is known to damage the liver.
- Safe sex - You should never have unprotected sex unless you are absolutely certain that your partner is not infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or another sexually transmitted disease. If you are not certain, use a new latex condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex.
- Smoking - Quitting smoking may reduce the risk of liver cancer and it has been proven to lessen the risk of many other diseases.
- Testing for inherited diseases - Finding and treating inherited diseases, such as hemochromatosis (a disease in which the body absorbs too much iron from food), can prevent the liver damage that these diseases often cause and reduce the risk of liver cancer.
This content has been reviewed and approved by Myo Thant, MD.