[Health Focus!] Liver Cancer Is Often Detected Too Late, After Symptoms Appear... High-Risk Groups Should Get Screened Every Six Months

"Regular Screening Essential for Patients with Hepatitis B or C and Cirrhosis"

Liver cancer is often already quite advanced by the time symptoms such as abdominal pain or weight loss appear. Because it has no clear symptoms in its early stages, making early detection difficult, high-risk individuals with hepatitis B or C or cirrhosis should undergo regular screenings every six months, even if they have no symptoms.

According to industry sources on October 9, liver cancer ranked seventh among cancers diagnosed in South Korea in 2023, accounting for 5.1% of cases. It ranked fifth among men and eighth among women.

Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma, which originates in liver cells, accounts for about 75% of all cases. The term "liver cancer" generally refers to hepatocellular carcinoma. The five-year survival rate for liver cancer patients has risen from 11.8% in the 1990s to 40.4% in recent years. However, along with lung and pancreatic cancer, liver cancer is still classified as a cancer with a relatively low survival rate.

Regular Screening Essential for Patients with Hepatitis B or C and Cirrhosis

The main causes of liver cancer are hepatitis B and C virus infections. Cirrhosis, in which the liver becomes hardened after chronic hepatitis persists for a long time, is another major risk factor. Frequent alcohol consumption, smoking, and obesity have also been found to increase the risk of liver cancer.

The problem is that there are few symptoms in the early stages. Abdominal pain or bloating, a lump that can be felt in the abdomen, or unexplained weight loss may indicate that the cancer has already advanced considerably.

Kim Jeonghan, a professor of gastroenterology at Konkuk University Medical Center, said, "The most important thing is to get regular screenings so the disease can be diagnosed before symptoms develop." He added, "If you have a liver condition or drink heavily, you should be sure to visit a hospital if these symptoms appear."

People with chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, or cirrhosis are among the groups at highest risk of liver cancer. Even if they have no symptoms, they are advised to undergo liver ultrasound and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tests every six months. High-risk individuals aged 40 or older can receive screening every six months through the National Liver Cancer Screening Program.

If a lump is found in the liver during screening, additional imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are used to make a diagnosis. If the tumor is less than 1 cm in size, imaging alone may not be sufficient to confirm the diagnosis, so additional imaging or follow-up monitoring is performed, and a biopsy is conducted if necessary.

Surgery to Remove Tumors in Early Stages; Cancer Treatment in Midstages 

Treatment is determined based on the patient's liver function and the size and number of tumors. If liver function is good and the tumor is small, the cancer can be removed surgically or treated locally by burning the tumor with radiofrequency energy. A liver transplant may be considered when the cancer is in its early stages but impaired liver function makes surgical removal difficult.

If cancer has developed in multiple areas or has advanced to a later stage, treatment may include transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), which involves injecting anticancer drugs into the blood vessels supplying the liver tumor and blocking blood flow, or systemic chemotherapy.

Liver cancer can recur even after treatment, so ongoing care is necessary. In particular, local treatments and embolization selectively target the area where the cancer developed and may carry a higher risk of recurrence than surgical removal. Therefore, imaging and tumor marker tests should be performed every 2 to 6 months after treatment to check for recurrence.

To help prevent liver cancer, hepatitis B vaccination, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy weight are important. People should also be cautious about viral infections from unsterilized equipment used for tattoos or acupuncture. Those already infected with hepatitis B or C should receive consistent antiviral treatment to reduce their risk of developing liver cancer.

Consuming adequate protein also helps maintain liver health. However, recent research has found insufficient evidence to support the common belief that a glass or two of wine is good for one's health. The effectiveness of liver health supplements sold on the market has also not been adequately verified.

Professor Kim emphasized, "Whatever treatment is chosen, it must be supported by good liver function." He added, "It is important to protect your liver through vaccination, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking, and for high-risk individuals not to skip regular screenings."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.