Who Gets Liver Cancer

Liver cancer rarely occurs in healthy liver; and most often, people developing liver cancer have one or more of the conditions given below:

• Chronic infection with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C: Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases your risk of liver cancer.
• Cirrhosis: This progressive and irreversible condition causes scar tissue to form in your liver and increases your chances of developing liver cancer.
• Excessive alcohol consumption: Consuming more than a moderate amount of alcohol daily over many years can lead to irreversible liver damage and increase your risk of liver cancer.
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An accumulation of fat in the liver increases the risk of liver cancer. This accumulation of fat may be due to obesity, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome or dyslipidemia (high blood cholesterol or triglycerides).
• Diabetes: People with this blood sugar disorder have a greater risk of liver cancer than those who don't have diabetes.
• Certain inherited liver diseases: Liver diseases that can increase the risk of liver cancer include hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease.
• Exposure to aflatoxins: Aflatoxins are poisons produced by molds that grow on crops that are stored poorly. Crops such as corn and peanuts can become contaminated with aflatoxins, which can end up in foods made of these products.