Cases of liver cancer have dramatically increased over the decades; the rate is now over three times what it was in the 1980s. More than 42,000 cases are expected this year per the National Cancer Institute. October is National Liver Awareness Month. It is the perfect time to consider risk factors you can control to lower your chance of developing this dangerous disease.
The two primary forms of liver cancer, both of which start in the liver, are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bile duct cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, the worrying rise in liver cancer numbers is mainly due to liver damage. This damage leads to scar tissue, which increases cancer risks. Some of the most effective ways you can lower your own risks are as follows:
• Find out if you have been vaccinated for Hepatitis B. The biggest cause of liver cancer is an infection from one of two viruses: Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV). HBV can spread through the sharing of several bodily fluids, but HCV is only spread through blood. There is a vaccine for HBV, but not HCV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HBV primarily spreads from mother to infant during childbirth. Many babies therefore are vaccinated right after birth. Two or three additional dosages follow to give the child lifetime protection from the virus. Knowing whether you received these shots is important; if you did not, please schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine.
• Get screened for HBV and HCV. The CDC advises at least one screening for all adults for HBV and HCV, even if they are not engaging in high-risk behaviors, such as sharing needles or having unprotected sex with someone who may be infected. The CDC recommends that pregnant women be screened for both HBV and HCV during every pregnancy. In addition to screening, people at higher risk due to their actions, liver conditions or careers should get tested. For example, medical providers exposed to HCV-contaminated blood should get tested.
• Make healthy lifestyle changes. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a complex term with a simple meaning: too much fat has developed in an individual’s liver cells. MASLD is a risk factor for liver cancer. The American Liver Foundation reports various methods that can help prevent or manage this disease, such as improving nutrition, lowering cholesterol, maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, controlling diabetes and paying attention to medication dosages.
• Consider abstinence from alcohol. Avoiding alcohol consumption can help reduce the risks of multiple cancers. From 1990 to 2023, alcohol-attributed cancer deaths doubled, according to a September 2026 study in The Lancet. This study determined that the highest increase in cancer deaths attributed to alcohol was from liver cancer.
• Commit to quitting smoking. According to a December 2020 study in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, growing evidence supports an association between smoking and increased scar tissue in those with chronic liver disease. If you want assistance with quitting, call 1-800-Quit-Now (7848-669) or visit QuitNowIndiana.com.
• Watch for symptoms. Keep in mind that many of those with liver cancer will not see any early signs of it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some of the signs to watch for once symptoms do appear are dark urine, pale stools, weight loss, yellowed eyes and skin, exhaustion, loss of appetite, nausea, and itchy skin.
If you are at high risk of liver cancer, want to lower your chances of developing it or have noticed any worrisome symptoms, please ask your primary care provider for guidance. If you don’t currently have one, please reach out to Eskenazi Health Connections for assistance at 317-880-7666.
Ananda Kannappan, M.D., primary care physician and lifestyle medicine practitioner with Eskenazi Health Center Grande