Although it is not possible to entirely eliminate the risk of developing primary liver cancer, you can take steps to reduce your risk:
with hepatitis B or C (both major causes of cirrhosis) by getting a hepatitis B vaccination, practising safe sex and not sharing items that might be blood-infected (such as needles, razors and toothbrushes).
Talk to your doctor if you have a family history of HCC, or have spent extended time in areas of the world where hepatitis B or hepatitis C are very common (South-East Asia, the Middle and Far East, sub-saharan Africa) or received a blood transfusion before 19917.
Ask for a blood test if you think you may have been at risk of infection with hepatitis B or C. Treatments are available which will reduce your risk of developing cirrhosis.
Avoid drinking too much alcohol (recommended levels are no more than three units of alcohol per day for men (21 units per week) and two for women (14 units per week) as this increases your chance of cirrhosis, the major cause of primary liver cancer.
Ensure haemochromatosis is treated. For those diagnosed with haemochromatosis, regularly having a unit of blood taken (venesection) to reduce iron overload significantly lowers the risk of developing HCC3.
Eat a healthy diet and take regular exercise to reduce the risks from obesity, type 2 diabetes, NAFLD or NASH. If you are diabetic, work with your GP to maintain good control of insulin levels.
Stop or never start to smoke, particularly if you have viral hepatitis or PSC.
Keep regular contact with your GP if you are diagnosed with any form of liver damage, such as fibrosis, and find out what you can do to stabilise or reverse the condition to prevent the development of cirrhosis.
Continue to drink coffee. Several research studies have suggested that coffee has a beneficial effect on the liver and reduces the risk of developing HCC. For those with liver damage (who enjoy coffee) drinking two to five cups a day may be of benefit. The way in which coffee affects the liver is still being investigated7,16.
Surveillance
If you have been diagnosed with cirrhosis (particularly related to hepatitis B, C alcohol or haemochromatosis3 you should receive regular ultrasound scans and blood tests (every 6 to 12 months) to monitor your liver. Early detection of any tumours will give the best opportunities for successful treatment.
Surveillance may not be offered if you have alcoholrelated cirrhosis and continue to drink, as the continued damage from alcohol would reduce the chances of any successful treatment17.
In addition, should you develop cancer in another part of your body, especially if the primary cancer is in your stomach, oesophagus, pancreas, colon or bowel, screening for early symptoms of secondary liver cancer will give you a chance of finding this at an early stage when more treatment options are available.