Risk Factors

Risk factors of liver cancer

We do not know the exact cause of liver cancer, but certain risk factors can increase a person’s chance of developing it. Having one or more of these does not mean you will get cancer.  Not having any risk factors, does not guarantee that you will not.  Risk factors:

• Age – most common in those >65
• Gender – more common in males
• Smoking – smokers are at much greater risk
• Hepatitis infection – long term infection with Hep B or C can increase the risk of developing liver cancer
• Cirrhosis – scarring of the liver. This can be caused by alcohol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, haemochromatosis or primary biliary cirrhosis
• Diabetes – particularly type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome – this is a group of conditions that occur together. These include: high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high levels of unhealthy fats in the blood and extra fat around the tummy
• Family history