Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is the second leading cause of death¹ in the United States. When cancer starts in the liver, it is called liver cancer. Each year in the United States, about 21,000 men and 8,000 women get liver cancer, and about 16,000 men and 8,000 women die from the disease. The percentage of Americans who get liver cancer has been rising for several decades².

African American’s rate of liver cancer is higher than Whites and is lower than Hispanics today. To lower your risk for liver cancer, get vaccinated against Hepatitis B, get tested for Hepatitis C, and don’t drink too much alcohol.

Jay Harold used information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide this overview of Liver Cancer. Jay Harold also has a post on Colorectal Cancer which provides information about this deadly form of cancer.

What Is the Liver?

The liver is the largest organ in the human body, located on the upper right side of the body, behind the lower ribs. The liver does many jobs, including—

• Storing nutrients.
• Removing waste products and worn-out cells from the blood.
• Filtering and processing chemicals in food, alcohol, and medications.
• Producing bile, a solution that helps digest fats and eliminate waste products.
  

  A hard lump on the right side just below the rib cage is a symptom of liver cancer.

What Causes Liver Cancer?

Many liver cancer cases are related to the hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus. More than 4 million people are living with chronic Hepatitis B or chronic Hepatitis C in the United States. Most people don’t know they have the virus.

Other behaviors and conditions that increase risk for getting liver cancer are—

• Heavy alcohol use.
• Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver, which can also be caused by hepatitis and alcohol use).
• Obesity.
• Diabetes.
• Having hemochromatosis, a condition where the body takes up and stores more iron than it needs.
• Eating foods that have aflatoxin (a fungus that can grow on foods, such as grains and nuts that have not been stored properly).

What Are the Symptoms of Liver Cancer?

In its early stages, liver cancer may not have symptoms that can be seen or felt. However, as the cancer grows larger, people may notice one or more of these common symptoms. It’s important to remember that these symptoms could also be caused by other health conditions. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.

Liver cancer symptoms may include—

1. Discomfort in the upper abdomen on the right side.
2. A swollen abdomen.
3. A hard lump on the right side just below the rib cage.
4. Pain near the right shoulder blade or in the back.
5. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
6. Easy bruising or bleeding.
7. Unusual tiredness.
8. Nausea and vomiting.
9. Loss of appetite.
10. Weight loss for no known reason.

How Can I Reduce My Risk for Liver Cancer?

You can lower your risk of getting liver cancer in the following ways—

• Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B infection. The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants at birth and for adults who may be at increased risk.
• Get tested for Hepatitis C, and get treated if you have it.
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol.

Statistics

In the United States in 2013 (the most recent year numbers are available)—

• 21,143 men and 8,330 women were diagnosed with liver cancer.*
• 16,300 men and 7,732 women died from liver cancer.*
• Among men, Asian/Pacific Islander men had the highest rates of getting liver cancer (19.1 per 100,000 men), followed by Hispanic† men (19.0), black men (17.0), American Indian/Alaska Native men (12.8), and white men (10.8).
  

  Obesity increases your risk of liver cancer.

• Among women, Hispanic† women had the highest rates of getting liver cancer (7.5 per 100,000 women), followed by Asian/Pacific Islander women (6.8), American Indian/Alaska Native women (6.1), black women (5.3), and white women (3.9).
• Among Asian/Pacific Islander men, liver cancer was the fourth most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death.
• Among Asian/Pacific Islander women, liver cancer was the tenth most common cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer death.

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Bibliography

1. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
2. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/livercancer/detailedguide/liver-cancer-what-is-key-statistics

*Incidence counts cover about 99% of the U.S. population; death counts cover about 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution when comparing incidence and death counts.