What can be done to prevent liver cancer?

Regular health checkups, preventive measures against viral hepatitis, and a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of liver cancer.

Early-stage liver cancer often has no symptoms. It is detected through routine health checkups and specialized medical tests such as ultrasound, CT scans, MRI, liver biopsy, and genetic testing.

According to Dr. Vu Truong Khanh, Head of the Gastroenterology Department at Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi , identifying risk factors helps reduce the likelihood of developing this disease.

routine check-ups

Liver diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and fatty liver disease can lead to cancer. Cirrhosis is a condition where the liver is severely scarred due to progressive liver damage, often over many years. Alcohol abuse is one of the common causes of cirrhosis and its progression to liver cancer. Patients with cirrhosis need to adhere to recommendations for regular monitoring and screening for liver cancer, contributing to early detection before symptoms develop.

Chronic hepatitis B or C viral infection is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Undiagnosed and untreated hepatitis B can easily lead to cancer without causing cirrhosis during the course of the infection. Therefore, regular checkups reduce the chances of missing the disease.

Similarly, fatty liver disease, which develops over time, can progress to cirrhosis, increasing the risk of liver cancer. Several health conditions increase the likelihood of developing fatty liver disease, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

According to Dr. Khanh, people with liver diseases are more likely to develop liver cancer. Regular check-ups as prescribed by doctors and treatment according to the prescribed regimen contribute to reducing the risk of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer).

Dr. Khanh examines a patient at Tam Anh Hospital. Photo: Provided by the hospital. — Dr. Khanh examines a patient at Tam Anh Hospital. Photo: *Provided by the hospital* .

Preventing viral hepatitis

Hepatitis B is dangerous because it progresses silently. The hepatitis B virus enters the body and severely impairs liver function. In the acute phase, most cases resolve spontaneously. However, when it progresses to the chronic phase, the risk of viral hepatitis developing into liver cancer is high if the disease is not properly managed.

Prevent viral hepatitis by vaccination, avoiding exposure to the hepatitis B virus through blood and bodily fluids. Prevent exposure to the hepatitis C virus through blood from infected individuals. Get tested for hepatitis B and C if exposure is suspected, and follow treatment protocols if infected.

Live a healthy life

According to Dr. Khanh, a healthy lifestyle helps keep the liver strong. One of the factors that strengthens the liver is exercise. Exercises such as swimming, cycling, running, and walking provide abundant oxygen for the liver to detoxify.

Foods containing toxic chemicals, mold, pesticide residues, and preservatives attack the liver, causing damage and destruction of liver cells. Therefore, a healthy diet, reducing fat intake and increasing fiber and fresh fruits and vegetables, helps reduce the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and other factors that contribute to liver cancer.

Limit alcohol and stimulants because they overwork the liver, leading to overload. When you drink too much alcohol, the liver cannot produce enough detoxifying enzymes. The accumulated alcohol causes the liver to produce more harmful inflammatory substances, increasing the risk of fatty liver disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

Cigarette smoke contains nicotine and many other toxic chemicals that force the liver to work harder to detoxify, increasing the risk of liver damage and cancer. Therefore, you should quit smoking and limit your exposure to secondhand smoke.

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