70% of liver cancer cases in Korea are caused by 'this'... not alcohol

Alcohol is not the problem.

If you have hepatitis B virus infection, be sure to get regular check-ups~

Liver cancer often shows few or mild symptoms even when it has progressed, which is why it is commonly called the "silent killer." There is only one way to detect it early: high-risk groups should undergo regular health screenings. An analysis of the causes of liver cancer in Korea revealed that about 68% are caused by chronic hepatitis B and C viruses. Professor Lee Young-sun of Korea University Guro Hospital Liver Center stated, "Liver cancer is a type of cancer with a clear cause compared to other cancers," and added, "Individuals over 40 with cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B, or chronic hepatitis C should undergo national liver cancer screening every six months."

Liver cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 39.3%... It must be detected early. The liver, one of the largest organs in the body, functions in nutrient storage and release, detoxification, immune response, and digestion and breakdown of food. Continuous stimulation to this vital organ causes liver cells to lose their inherent functions and transform into cancer cells. This is called 'liver cancer.' According to the 2021 Cancer Registration Statistics from the National Cancer Information Center, liver cancer ranks 7th among major cancers, with 15,131 cases, and has a 5-year survival rate of 39.3%, indicating a poor prognosis. Professor A stated, "Liver cancer most commonly occurs in people in their 50s and 60s," and "The reason why liver cancer, which appears during the most active years, is dangerous is because it progresses without specific symptoms." Data released by the Central Cancer Registration Headquarters in December 2023 shows that among liver cancer patients in Korea, those in their 60s accounted for the largest group (29.9%), followed by those in their 70s (25.9%) and 50s (25.9%). In the early stages, liver cancer rarely shows symptoms, but in advanced stages, symptoms such as ▲upper right abdominal pain ▲palpable mass ▲weight loss ▲jaundice may appear. Professor A explained, "Generally, liver cancer is divided into 'primary liver cancer,' which arises from malignant transformation of the liver's own cells, and 'metastatic liver cancer,' which originates in other organs and spreads to the liver." He added, "In the case of 'primary liver cancer,' about 90% of cases are hepatocellular carcinoma caused by abnormalities in liver cells, with cholangiocarcinoma, caused by abnormalities in bile duct cells, being representative." He further noted, "Very rarely, vascular sarcoma and other types can occur."

Viral hepatitis must be treated if chronic B or C hepatitis is present. In particular, hepatitis B accounts for 58% of liver cancer cases. It is known to increase the risk of liver cancer by more than 100 times compared to normal individuals. Hepatitis C has a very high rate of progression to chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, about 55-85%, so the incidence of liver cancer also increases. This professor said, "It is advisable to get vaccinated for hepatitis B, and since there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, it is important to seek treatment if infected." Occasionally, some hepatitis B vaccine recipients do not develop antibodies due to differences in immune response, but there is no need for re-vaccination. However, if there is a family member with hepatitis B, or if you belong to a high-risk group such as undergoing dialysis or work in healthcare, re-vaccination once is considered safe.

Recently, metabolic diseases such as alcoholic liver disease and metabolic abnormality fatty liver disease are gradually accounting for an increasing proportion of causes of liver cancer. Professor Lee said, "This change is due to the increasing proportion of young people drinking alcohol and the rising prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the general population," adding, "Metabolic abnormality fatty liver disease is known to affect over 30% of the total population, and with increasing average lifespan and early onset, the duration of the disease is lengthening, raising concerns that it will become a major cause of liver cancer in the future." He continued, "Many people think of fatty liver as a mild condition and tend to ignore it, but if it progresses to steatohepatitis and fibrosis, it can develop into severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, so it is advisable to seek specialist consultation at least once." If it progresses to cirrhosis, the risk of developing liver cancer increases, so consulting a specialist is essential. Professor Lee emphasized, "In patients with metabolic abnormality fatty liver disease, liver cancer can develop even without cirrhosis, and it is often difficult to detect early because the liver may not be clearly visible on ultrasound, so caution is needed," adding, "Patients with metabolic abnormality fatty liver disease should adopt lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, dietary control, and exercise."

Liver cancer treatments are increasing... Instead of giving up, you should consult a specialist. Liver cancer treatment can be broadly divided into curative (resection) and non-curative treatments. Curative treatments include liver resection, radiofrequency ablation, and liver transplantation, while non-curative treatments include transarterial chemoembolization and systemic therapy. Transarterial chemoembolization is a treatment that blocks the blood vessels feeding the cancer cells, suppressing tumor growth and inducing natural cell death. It is used for multiple liver cancers and is as effective as curative treatments for small tumors. Recently, various treatments such as drug-eluting microsphere embolization and radiotherapy have been developed. Systemic therapy is performed when the portal vein is invaded or metastasis occurs outside the liver, especially when local treatments are ineffective, recurrent, or difficult to apply. Professor Lee said, "Recently, immune and targeted anticancer drugs have shown effectiveness in liver cancer patients, and in some cases, even advanced liver cancer patients treated with immunotherapy have achieved complete remission."

<Source: Health Chosun>