October is recognized as Liver Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shine a spotlight on a disease that often goes unnoticed until it is advanced. Unlike some cancers, liver cancer can develop silently, making education around risk factors, early warning signs, and treatment options especially important. By raising awareness, we can help people identify risks sooner and improve outcomes through timely care.
The Scope of Liver Cancer
While not as common as breast or lung cancer, liver cancer is one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer deaths in the United States. In 2025, an estimated 42,240 people will be diagnosed, and about 30,090 deaths are expected.
The challenge lies in the disease’s aggressiveness: the five-year survival rate is about 22% overall. Survival varies widely by stage, about 35% if caught early, but only 2-3% for distant stage disease. These numbers emphasize why prevention and vigilance are critical.
Who Is at Risk?
Liver cancer does not develop overnight. In most cases, it arises from long-term damage to the liver.
Major risk factors include:
- Chronic hepatitis B or C infections, which cause inflammation and scarring over time.
- Cirrhosis, often the result of hepatitis, heavy alcohol use, or fatty liver disease.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (MASLD), strongly tied to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, is becoming one of the fastest-growing causes of liver cancer worldwide.
- Environmental or inherited factors, including aflatoxin exposure (contaminated food), iron overload (hemochromatosis), and Wilson’s disease.
- Lifestyle factors, such as heavy alcohol consumption and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, which further stress the liver.
Recognizing Symptoms
One of the reasons liver cancer is often caught late is that early stages rarely cause symptoms. When signs do appear, they may include:
- Abdominal swelling or pain
- Unexplained weight loss or appetite changes
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Dark urine or pale stools
- Persistent nausea, vomiting, or fatigue
These symptoms are not exclusive to liver cancer, but they are red flags that should prompt medical evaluation.
Screening and Diagnosis
Unlike breast or colon cancer, there is no population-wide screening program for liver cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has not recommended routine screening for people at average risk.
However, for high-risk individuals, such as those with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, doctors often recommend regular surveillance with ultrasound and blood tests (AFP) every 6 months.
Diagnosis may involve imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI), blood tests, and sometimes biopsy to confirm cancer type.
Progress in Treatment
While survival rates remain low compared to some other cancers, treatment advances are offering patients more options than ever before.
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- Surgery and Transplantation: surgical removal or liver transplant offers the best chance for cure in early-stage disease, with survival rates up to 70% at five years for eligible patients.
- Localized Therapies: procedures such as radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and radioembolization can target tumors directly when surgery isn’t possible.
- Systemic Therapies:
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- Immunotherapy drugs like atezolizumab (Tecentriq) combined with bevacizumab (Avastin) are now a standard first-line treatment for advanced liver cancer.
- Targeted therapies such as sorafenib and lenvatinib continue to extend survival for patients who cannot undergo surgery.
- Ongoing clinical trials are testing new combinations of immunotherapy
The trend is clear: treatment is becoming more personalized, with therapies chosen based on tumor biology, stage, and patient health.
How to Protect Your Liver Health
This Liver Cancer Awareness Month, focus on steps that can reduce your risk and protect your long-term liver health:
- Get vaccinated for hepatitis B and, if you have hepatitis C, seek treatment; new antiviral therapies can cure the infection.
- Limit alcohol and avoid behaviors that increase viral hepatitis risk.
- Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and manage conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.
- Talk to your doctor about surveillance if you have cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, or other high-risk conditions.
- Be alert to symptoms and seek medical advice promptly if you notice changes.
Moving Forward with Hope
While liver cancer remains one of the more difficult cancers to treat, progress in prevention, early detection, and therapy is moving the field forward. Every step: vaccination, lifestyle changes, awareness, has the power to reduce risk and save lives.
At OCSRI, our team is committed to supporting patients with risk assessment, advanced treatment, and compassionate care.
This Liver Cancer Awareness Month, make your health a priority: protect your liver, schedule check-ins with your provider, and share the importance of awareness with loved ones.