What is liver cancer?
The liver performs numerous vital functions including breaking down nutrients that your body needs, helps your body get rid of toxins, and it supports healthy blood flow.
For decades, the number of liver cancer cases has continued to rise. In 2020, liver cancer was the third most common cause of all cancer-related deaths. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of liver cancer that is the most common form of liver cancer among adults.
About 41,000
people in the US were diagnosed with liver cancer in 2022
75%-80%
of these liver cancer cases are HCC
Risk factors for HCC:
HCC is more common in men than in women. Some other major known risk factors for HCC include:
- Viral hepatitis B
- Viral hepatitis C
- Type 2 diabetes (T2D)
- Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
- Heavy alcohol use
- Obesity
- Tobacco use
Please note that the risk factors listed above are not exhaustive.
