Main Causes of Liver Cancer and How to Prevent

SciePro/Shutterstock

Liver cancer ranks as the fifth most common cancer and has been the third leading cause of cancer death in Hong Kong for years. However, there are still many misconceptions about liver cancer, which can easily affect the process of treatment and recovery.

Dr. Ka Wing Ma, general surgery consultant and clinical director at the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diagnostic and Treatment Center (HPDTC) at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital (HKAP), Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, pointed out that in Hong Kong and East Asia, primary liver cancer is mostly induced by chronic hepatitis B.

90 Percent of Liver Cancer Cases Had Hepatitis B virus

According to the clinical data of the HPDTC at HKAP, more than 90 percent of liver cancer cases had hepatitis B virus in their bodies. Other common risk factors for liver cancer include chronic hepatitis C, type 2 diabetes, smoking, obesity, and a history of liver cancer in the family. Excessive alcohol consumption is just one of the high-risk factors.