Liver cancer refers to an uncontrollable growth of normal cells to form a tumour. Cancerous tumours damage healthy cells which make up the organ and impair the liver’s functionality. Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) significantly raises the risk of liver cancer.

Both viruses can cause chronic inflammation and damage to the liver, resulting in fibrosis or scarring and eventually cirrhosis, a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer. Globally, around 56% of liver cancers are caused by chronic hepatitis B, with around 43% liver cancer deaths ascribed to the disease.

Between 15% and 25% of people infected with hepatitis B at birth, will die prematurely from cirrhosis, liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma, if their hepatitis B is not diagnosed and properly managed. Both HBV and HCV can be transmitted from person to person through sharing contaminated needles (like IV drug use), unprotected sex, childbirth, or blood transfusion.

HBV attacks the liver and weakens its ability to perform critical tasks like filtering toxins from the blood and maintaining the optimum level of sugar in the blood. Although chronic infection with both HBV and HCV can cause liver cancer, worldwide, hepatitis B is much more widespread than hepatitis C, making it a top priority in preventing liver cancer. The global load of HBV is around 292 million.

In order to reduce rates of morbidity and death linked to these diseases, we have to equip healthcare workers with greater awareness and knowledge and ensure there is improved identification of at-risk people and better access to medical care. While hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C yet.

What are the symptoms of liver cancer?

Most patients don’t experience any telltale signs and symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms appear, they include:

Unexplained loss of weight
Loss of appetite
Pain in the upper abdomen
Nausea and vomiting
General weakness and fatigue
Abdominal swelling
Jaundice or yellow discolouration of skin and whites of eyes
White, chalky stools

Other risk factors for liver cancer

Besides chronic hepatitis B and C, other risk factors include:

Alcohol-related cirrhosis
Tobacco use
Diabetes
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Hemochromatosis
Exposure to certain chemicals

To sum up

Infection with both HBV and HCV can cause chronic inflammation and damage to the liver, while increasing the risk of having liver cancer. HBV is capable of integrating into the host genome, while HCV proteins can disturb cellular processes, both playing a role in the development of cancer. So clearly, preventing infection with both the hepatitis B and C viruses and managing chronic infections efficiently are vital in the fight to reduce risk of liver cancer.