What is liver cancer? Expert explains causes, symptoms and how to treat it
Health expert on the risk factors for liver cancer
- Liver cancer cases are projected to increase significantly, from 0.87 million in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050, according to a Lancet Commission on Liver Cancer report.
- Rising obesity rates are a major contributing factor, with the proportion of liver cancer cases linked to obesity expected to double from 5 per cent to 11 per cent.
- Around three out of four cancers that start in the liver are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which frequently develops in livers scarred by conditions such as excessive alcohol consumption or Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).
- Early stages of liver cancer often show no symptoms, but advanced signs include jaundice, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue, with diagnosis typically involving ultrasound, CT, and MRI scans.
- Treatment options are diverse, ranging from curative surgeries like liver resection, transplant, or ablation for early detection, to other methods such as chemoembolisation for more advanced cases.