Liver cancer Prevention
There are no useful strategies at present for preventing metastatic cancers of the
liver (cancers spread to the liver from other types of cancer}.
Primary liver cancers, however, are 75-80% preventable.
Current strategies focus on widespread vaccination for hepatitis
B; early treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis;
and screening of high-risk patients with alpha-fetoprotein testing and ultrasound
examinations.
Lifestyle factors that can be modified in order to prevent liver cancer include
avoidance of exposure to toxic chemicals and foods harboring molds that produce aflatoxin.
Prevention of liver cancer is possible at three levels.
The first level of prevention is to avoid alcohol abuse and to prevent the occurrence
of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.
These are acquired from infected individuals via blood or rarely other secretions, by
sharing of infected needles among drug addicts, or by the sexual route. Their transmission
can be avoided by use of disposable needles in hospitals, by strict and universal
screening of all blood donors in blood banks and refusing donations from infected persons.
The spread of Hepatitis B can be curbed by universal vaccination of all newborns and the
rest of the non-infected population.
The second level of prevention is in patients who have liver cirrhosis.
A significant proportion of them will develop cancer. This can be avoided if they undergo
a timely liver transplant and the diseased liver can be removed. All those with cirrhosis
should see a liver specialist to find out if a liver transplant is suitable for them.
The third levell is simple. Avoid over use of
alcohol. Alcohol is the number one cause of cirrhosis of the liver.
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