Here’s what you should know about liver cancer!

In 2021, the famous actor "Uncle Tat" Wu Mengda and the musical genius Zhao Yingjun both passed away due to liver cancer. The sudden news made everyone feel sorry. At the same time, the word "liver cancer" was pushed to the public, sounding a health alarm for everyone. Why is liver cancer diagnosed in the late stage? What factors in life can induce liver cancer? How should we prevent it?

Why is liver cancer discovered in the late stages?

First, the liver is a powerful organ with the strongest regenerative and compensatory capabilities in the human body. Therefore, even if liver cells are damaged, as long as 30% of liver cells function normally, it can function normally. This makes it easy for patients to relax their vigilance and think that liver function is normal.

Second, the liver lacks pain nerves and is not very sensitive to pain. Pain only occurs when the tumor invades the liver capsule or surrounding organs, but by then the cancer is often in the middle or late stages.

Third, the onset of liver cancer is very hidden, and the early symptoms are very atypical. The clinical manifestations of liver cancer patients include discomfort in the liver area, fatigue, weight loss and other symptoms, which are often easily ignored by patients. Once discovered, most of them are in the middle and late stages.

What are the causes of liver cancer?

1. Hepatitis virus

Viral infection is the main cause of liver cancer. Currently, nearly 90% of liver cancer patients develop from chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C to cirrhosis and then to liver cancer.

2. Long-term heavy drinking

Drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause great damage to the liver. The liver produces a lot of toxins in the process of metabolizing alcohol, causing liver damage. Gradually worsening, it will develop into alcoholic cirrhosis, and further develop into liver cancer.

3. Fatty liver

Non-alcoholic fatty liver is caused by obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle. If fatty liver is not controlled, it can develop into fatty hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.

4. Long-term consumption of moldy food

Expired food, pickled food and moldy food contain aflatoxin, which is a type of carcinogen. Long-term and excessive intake can cause liver cancer.

How to prevent liver cancer correctly?

Liver cancer is a preventable cancer. In daily life, we can start from the following aspects.

1. Get the hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis vaccine is an important way to prevent liver cancer. Patients with viral hepatitis should go to the hospital for systematic diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible, and family members are advised to undergo screening. Those who have not yet received the hepatitis B vaccine must get the hepatitis B vaccine.

2. Avoid long-term and heavy drinking.

3. Avoid the formation of fatty liver. Control your diet, limit the intake of high-fat, high-cholesterol, and high-oil foods, and ensure moderate physical exercise every day.

4. Do not eat moldy food and pay attention to food hygiene. You can eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and high dietary fiber.

5. Do not abuse drugs. Some drugs may damage liver function, such as antibiotics, cold medicines, diet pills, and some Chinese herbal medicines. Therefore, drugs must be taken under the guidance of a doctor and should not be abused.

6. Combine work and rest, have regular physical examinations, develop good living habits, stay up late less, and exercise more.