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A risk factor
is
anything that affects a person's chance of getting a disease. Different
cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, such as
smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or family
history, can't be changed. But having a risk factor, or even many, does
not mean that a person will develop cancer.
Risk Factors
Scientists have found many risk factors that make a person
more likely to get hepatocellular liver cancer.
Gender
Men are more likely to get liver cancer than are women. This
could be because of the behaviors listed below, such as smoking and
alcohol abuse.
Certain Types of Liver
Disease
On-going (chronic) infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or
hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a very important liver cancer risk factor.
These infections are common in many parts of the world. In this
country, hepatitis C is the most common cause of liver cancer, while in
other countries, hepatitis B is more common. These viruses are spread
from person to person through sharing dirty needles (such as in drug
use), unprotected sex, or childbirth. They can also be passed on
through blood transfusions. This is rare in the United States because
blood products are now tested for these viruses. People with hepatitis
A infection do not have an increased risk of liver cancer.
There are also some inherited liver diseases that increase the
risk of liver cancer.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis (suh-row-sis) is a disease in
which liver cells are damaged and replaced with scar tissue. This can
often lead to cancer. In this country, the major causes of liver
cirrhosis are alcohol abuse and hepatitis B and C. Another cause is a
disease that results in too much iron in the liver.
Diabetes
Diabetes can increase the risk of liver cancer. This is more
common in diabetics who have other risk factors such as heavy drinking
or viral hepatitis.
Obesity
Obesity
might increase the risk
of getting liver cancer.
Aflatoxins
These
cancer-causing
substances are made by a fungus that can contaminate peanuts, wheat,
soybeans, groundnuts, corn, and rice. Long-term exposure to aflatoxins
can increase the risk of liver cancer. In the United States and Europe,
these foods are tested for aflatoxins.
Vinyl Chloride and Thorium
Dioxide
(Thorotrast)
These chemicals are risk factors for several types of
liver cancer. They have become much less important since Thorotrast is
no longer used and exposure to vinyl chloride is strictly controlled.
Anabolic Steroids
These male hormones are used by some athletes to increase
their
strength. Long-term
use of these can slightly increase the risk of liver cancer.
Arsenic
In some parts of the world,
drinking water contaminated with arsenic increases the risk of liver
cancer. This is a concern in some areas of the United States.
Less Certain Risk Factors for
Liver Cancer
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills may slightly increase the risk of liver
cancer. Most of the studies linking birth control pills and cancer
involve types of pills that are no longer used. Birth control pills are
now made in a different way, and it is not known if they increase liver
cancer risk.
Tobacco
Some studies have found a link between smoking and liver
cancer, but the extent of this is not known.
Revised: 05/14/2007
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