What causes Liver Cancer?

What is liver cancer?

Other genes, referred to as tumor suppressor genes, stop cells from growing uncontrolled and ensure that cells die when they are intended to die by monitoring the activity of the cells. Your cells get new instructions whenever your DNA is altered or mutated. DNA alterations in liver cancer activate oncogenes and/or shut tumor suppressor genes. 

Research indicates that more than half of all instances of HCC are caused by cirrhosis brought on by the hepatitis B virus and C viruses. These viruses modify the DNA of the liver cells they infect, transforming normal liver cells into malignant ones.

Factors that increase the risk of Liver cancer

These are some of the things that might put you at a higher risk of developing primary liver cancer:

• Age: People above the age of 65 often have liver cancer.
• Long-term infection with either HBV or HCV: When either the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is chronically present in the body, it raises the chance of developing liver cancer.
• Cirrhosis: Scar tissue forms in the liver, increasing the risk of liver cancer, and this disease is gradual and permanent.
• Diseases of the liver that run in families: Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease are two examples of liver illnesses associated with an increased risk of liver cancer.
• Diabetes: Diabetics have a higher chance of developing liver cancer than the general population.
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: The likelihood of developing liver cancer is raised when fat builds up in the liver.
• Being exposed to aflatoxins: Molds that develop on improperly kept food may release toxic aflatoxins. Foods manufactured with infected grains and nuts are a serious health risk. Aflatoxins are a kind of mycotoxin.
• Excessive alcoholic intake: Heavy drinking over a long time increases the chance of developing liver cancer and may cause irreparable damage to the liver.
• Use of anabolic steroids: The chance of developing liver cancer rises with prolonged usage of anabolic steroids, a synthetic form of testosterone.

Are non-alcoholic people also at risk of liver cancer?

The underlying cause may be a genetic tendency, an unhealthy lifestyle due to a lack of physical exercise and a diet heavy in sugar, fat, and fructose. Fatty liver, on the other hand, refers to a wide variety of disorders that may affect the liver and other organs in addition to the liver itself.

NAFLD is a complicated and diverse condition that may result in a number of consequences, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and serious liver damage.

Also Read – How to Identify Early Symptoms of Liver Cancer?

Can we prevent liver cancer?

The term “risk factor” refers to anything that may have a role in a person developing cancer. As the name implies, a cancer protective factor is anything that helps reduce the likelihood of developing cancer. Preventative measures consist of lowering the risk factors and raising the protective variables.

Factors like these may help prevent liver cancer from progressing:

• Receiving the hepatitis B vaccination: Managing HBV infection (through HBV vaccination at birth) has been found to reduce the incidence of liver cancer in children. Whether or not adult liver cancer risk may be reduced with vaccination.
• Treating a chronic hepatitis B infection: Interferon and nucleos(t)ide analog treatment are two alternatives for treating persons with persistent HBV infection. Some evidence suggests that using these methods may lower one’s chance of acquiring liver cancer.
• Preventing Aflatoxin B1 Exposure: It is possible to lessen the risk of developing liver cancer by not consuming foods that contain high concentrations of aflatoxin B1. Further, you are suggested to increase the consumption of foods with far lower levels of the toxin.

Conclusion