Liver disease vs. liver cancer: What’s the difference and is there a connection?

Liver disease and liver cancer are conditions often confused for each other. They do have plenty in common, including several risk factors and techniques for prevention, but there are also some major differences.

What factors separate liver disease and liver cancer and what connects them? Let’s take a closer look.

What is liver disease?

The liver’s primary function is to filter all your body’s blood to remove toxins. Liver disease is a general term for a disorder where the liver becomes damaged and no longer works correctly. Liver disease progresses slowly over time and increases your risk for liver failure or liver cancer.

What is liver cancer?

Liver cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled growth of cells in the liver.

What is fatty liver disease? And is it different from liver disease?

There are different types of liver disease, such as simple fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and alcohol-related fatty liver disease (AFLD). Fatty liver disease is a disorder of excessive fat buildup (steatosis) in the liver. It can interfere with the functioning of your liver and cause liver damage. Learn about the risk, prevention and treatment of fatty liver disease.

How are liver disease and liver cancer connected?

Liver disease occurs when a healthy liver becomes damaged. This damage causes more inflammation and leads to the liver tissue becoming fibrotic, or stiff. This is referred to as a state of fibrosis.

From fibrosis, a liver can progress to a state of cirrhosis, where scarring occurs. Liver cirrhosis can be permanent and can lead to liver cancer.

Can you be diagnosed with liver cancer without being previously diagnosed with liver disease?

Liver disease will almost always occur before liver cancer develops, but it’s not always diagnosed before liver cancer occurs.

Because there are often no symptoms, liver disease may be found when you have blood or imaging tests done for other reasons. Liver function tests (liver enzymes) may be elevated or an imaging scan may show abnormalities. In these cases, your health care provider would first rule out other explanations (like some of the risk factors listed below) for the abnormal results.

The good news is that if you can catch liver disease before it becomes liver cancer, it may be reversible through lifestyle changes.

What puts you at risk for liver disease, and in turn, liver cancer?

You at are increased risk of liver disease and liver cancer if you:

• Have viral infections hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Read more below on how to protect yourself against hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

• Drink alcohol to excess. Drinking alcohol can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, which can lead to liver cancer.

• Utilice productos de tabaco.

• Tiene sobrepeso u obesidad.

• Tener fatty liver disease.

• Tiene diabetes tipo 2.

How do you reduce your risk for liver disease and liver cancer? 

There is no routine screening for liver cancer, but you may reduce your risk for liver disease and liver cancer through these lifestyle-related risk modifications:

• Get vaccinated against hepatitis B. If you were never vaccinated for hepatitis B, talk to your health care provider about getting vaccinated now. The vaccine is recommended for those up to age 59 at average risk and for those ages 60 and older who are at high risk of hepatitis B infection. (Adults ages 60 and up who are at average risk may also get vaccinated.)

• Get tested for hepatitis B. All adults should get screened for hepatitis B at least once in their lifetime. Pregnant people should get screened during each pregnancy. If you test positive, treatments are available.

• Get tested for hepatitis C. Every adult ages 18–79 should be tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. If you test positive for the virus, curative treatments are available. In June 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-ever point-of-care test to diagnose hepatitis C infection in adults—making testing more accessible and faster for millions of people in the U.S.

• Do not smoke or use tobacco in any way. If you do, quit. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for support.

• Evite o limite el alcohol.

• Exercise for at least 30 minutes, at least five days a week.

• Mantener un peso saludable.

• Practice safer sex and use a new condom the right way every time you have sex to protect yourself. (This does not provide 100% protection.)

LEER MÁS | Obtenga más información sobre el vínculo entre la hepatitis B, la hepatitis C y el cáncer de hígado.

Now that you know the connection and differences between liver disease and liver cancer, you can take steps to improve your health. Talk to your health care provider if you are concerned about your liver disease risk and achieve Mejores resultados for your health.