Risk Factors
What Is a Risk Factor?
A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. The risk factors do not always directly cause cancer. Some people may have several risk factors but never develop cancer, while other people who have no known risk factors do develop cancer. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance of developing cancer.
Knowing your risk factors and discussing them with your health care provider may help you make more informed lifestyle and health care choices to reduce your risk of cancer.
What Are the Risk Factors for Liver Cancer?
The most common risk factor for liver cancer globally is chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus. Approximately 15%–25% of people with chronic infection develop chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. The risk of a person with chronic hepatitis B developing liver cancer can be greater than the risk of a heavy smoker dying from lung cancer. Long-term antiviral treatment can reduce the risk of liver cancer by up to 60%.
In the United States, chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus is the leading cause of liver cancer because of the greater number of Americans infected with this virus. Studies are still being done to assess the impact of Sustained Virological Response (SVR, or a “cure”) after treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Data suggest a significant reduction in HCC risk, in some populations a risk reduction of up to 65%. It is chronic hepatitis B infections, however, that cause at least 54% of all liver cancer worldwide.
Additional risk factors for developing liver cancer include cirrhosis, excessive alcohol use and smoking, as well as obesity and diabetes. Some inherited diseases that cause liver damage also increase the risk of liver cancer. Race, ethnicity and a family history of liver cancer are known risk factors as well. Liver cancer is more common among men than women regardless of race or ethnicity.
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