Why Are Liver Cancer Rates Rising?

Key takeaways

• The rising rate of liver cancer in the U.S. is linked to obesity and fatty liver disease.
• Fatty liver damage can lead to cirrhosis and increase cancer risk.
• Preventive actions, like eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol and getting vaccinated against hepatitis can lower your risk.

Summary

Liver cancer rates are rising in the U.S., driven largely by obesity and fatty liver disease. This video explains how excess fat in the liver can cause inflammation, damage and eventually cirrhosis, which increases cancer risk over time. Risks like viral hepatitis and alcohol use also contribute to liver cancer.

Because liver cancer is often symptomless in its early stages, many cases are diagnosed late, making treatment more difficult. Prevention and early detection are critical. Maintaining a healthy weight, adopting a plant-forward diet, reducing alcohol use, getting your hepatitis vaccines, and getting screened regularly for liver issues can help lower risk and improve outcomes.

The key takeaways and summary were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Full transcript

[0:00:00] In the last 40 years, liver cancer cases in the U.S. haven’t just gone up,

[0:00:04] they’ve tripled, and an unexpected reason has been quietly reshaping what we know about this silent killer.
[0:00:10] So why are liver cancer rates rising?
[0:00:13] Research points to obesity.
[0:00:15] Experts have found that the increase in liver cancer diagnoses closely tracks with the growing obesity levels in the U.S. and something called fatty liver disease.
[0:00:24] Experts say they have seen this rise firsthand.
[0:00:27] Dr. Ani Kardashian: Prior to 15 years ago, the more common causes for liver disease were viral hepatitis, alcohol use disorder.
[0:00:36] In recent years, there has been a major rise in prevalence of fatty liver disease.
[0:00:42] As people consume more and more fatty foods, ultra-processed foods, foods that are very high in added sugars, the fat builds up in the liver.
[0:00:51] That fat can cause inflammation and damage to those liver cells, and eventually cirrhosis of the liver.
[0:00:57] And then the cirrhosis of the liver does put you at increased risk of developing liver cancer.
[0:01:02] Rachel: The longer your body is exposed to the risk, the more likely that cancer will develop.
[0:01:07] That’s why the risk of liver cancer increases with age and is most common in older people.
[0:01:12] Even worse, liver cancer often goes undetected until it’s too late, and that’s the reason doctors call it a silent killer.
[0:01:20] Dr. K: If it’s caught early enough, it’s, there are many promising treatments and people can, in fact, be cured of, um, their liver cancer.
[0:01:29] Unfortunately, most people have no idea that they have developed it.
[0:01:34] There are very few symptoms that a person might experience.
[0:01:38] Typically, once symptoms develop, that suggests that, um, the cancer has kind of gone to later stages.
[0:01:45] Rachel: Symptoms of late-stage liver cancer can include weight loss, upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, weakness and fatigue, abdominal swelling, jaundice and white chalky stools.
[0:01:56] Dr. K: Once the symptoms pre- uh, present, usually the cancer has spread too far.
[0:02:01] There are many treatment options such as chemotherapy, immunotherapies, preventing the cancer from spreading further.
[0:02:08] These treatments are palliative.
[0:02:10] That means they are not intended to cure, but they are intended to either control or reduce the burden of the cancer.
[0:02:19] Rachel: If this sounds bleak, here’s the hopeful part: Prevention is possible.
[0:02:23] One study found that 60% of liver cancers could be prevented by reducing their major causes.
[0:02:29] Dr. K: These include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, a very plant-forward diet where 80% or greater of your food intake is gonna be, is from plants.
[0:02:40] I also recommend that people, um, minimize or stop drinking alcohol.
[0:02:45] It’s important to also get vaccinated for both hepatitis A and for hepatitis B.
[0:02:50] Rachel: In addition to these lifestyle changes, early detection of fatty liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer isn’t just possible —
[0:02:58] it can be a lifesaver.
[0:03:00] Dr. K: If you may have a risk factor for liver disease, like you drink heavily, you are obese, it is important that you go to your primary care doctor and get your liver tests checked.
[0:03:10] For people who have known cirrhosis of the liver, it is very important that you get screened with an ultrasound every six months for the rest of your life.
[0:03:20] Rachel: With healthy habits and regular screening, liver cancer could be prevented or caught early.
[0:03:25] Protect your liver, protect your future.
[0:03:28] For more in-depth health news and information, visit aarp.org/health