Liver Cancer

What is it?

Liver cancer is cancer that begins in the cells of the liver. It can often be prevented by protecting against the viruses that cause most liver cancers, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

You can greatly reduce your risk for liver cancer by protecting yourself from these viruses or diagnosing and treating an infection early. Learn more about the link between hepatitis B, hepatitis C and liver cancer.

Multiracial group of happy senior people taking a selfie with a cell phone in a recreational room.

Get vaccinated and screened

There is no routine screening for liver cancer, but you can protect yourself against the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, the leading causes of liver cancer. Get vaccinated and screened according to the following:*

*Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

All ages: Hepatitis B vaccination

The hepatitis B vaccine is usually given in three doses between birth and 6-18 months of age. All medically stable infants should be vaccinated against hepatitis B.

If you were never vaccinated for hepatitis B, talk with 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 up who are at increased risk for hepatitis B infection. (Adults ages 60 and up who are not at increased risk may also be vaccinated.)

All adults: Hepatitis B testing

All adults (18+) 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.

Ages 18–79: Hepatitis C testing

Every adult should be tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. If you test positive, treatments are available. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.

Those who are pregnant or people of any age with risk factors, including people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), should be screened for hepatitis C.

Know your risk

You are at increased risk for liver cancer if you:

Have hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection.
Drink alcohol to excess. Drinking alcohol can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, which can lead to liver cancer.
Use tobacco products.
Are overweight or obese.
Have fatty liver disease.
Have Type 2 diabetes.
Are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in your workplace.

Reduce your risk

You may reduce your risk for liver cancer through these lifestyle-related risk modifications:

Get vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Follow the screening guidelines for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Seek treatment if you are diagnosed with hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection.

Do not smoke or use tobacco in any way.

If you do, quit.

Avoid or limit alcohol.

To reduce your risk of cancer, it’s best to avoid alcohol completely. If you do choose to drink, limit your drinking to no more than one drink a day if you were assigned female at birth, and no more than two drinks a day if you were assigned male at birth.

Practice safer sex.

Use a new condom the right way every time you have sex to protect yourself. This does not provide 100% protection.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes, at least 5 days a week.

Signs & symptoms

If you notice any of these symptoms, talk with your health care provider right away:

For signs and symptoms of hepatitis B or C, visit the viruses and cancer page.

Unexpected weight loss
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
An enlarged liver, felt as a mass under the right side of your ribs
An enlarged spleen, felt as a mass under the left side of your ribs
Pain in the abdomen or near the right shoulder blade
Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen
Itching
Yellowing of the skin and eyes
Fever
Abnormal bruising or bleeding
Enlarged veins on the belly that become visible through the skin

Treatment options

Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer and your medical condition.

Surgery

Surgery to remove the cancer and surrounding tissue is the most effective treatment for liver cancer. This is known as a liver resection, or a partial hepatectomy or lobectomy. Surgery can also include a liver transplant to remove the diseased liver and replace it with a healthy liver from a donor.

Tumor ablation

This is a procedure that uses heat, cold or electric current to attack tumors. It can be used alone or in combination with another therapy before or after surgery.

Tumor embolization

Tumor embolization is a procedure that reduces the blood supply to the tumor. This can relieve symptoms, shrink tumors, slow tumor growth and make tumor margins easier to identify. It can be done to make the surgical procedure easier.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be used alone or in combination with another therapy before or after surgery.

Radiation therapy

This treatment uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may be used alone or in combination with another therapy before or after surgery.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy can be a drug or antibody that targets the proteins that affect how cancer cells grow, divide and spread. It may be used alone or in combination before or after surgery.