Liver cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in the world, yet it continues to take hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Nearly 900,000 people are diagnosed annually, and around 830,000 die from it — making it the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, after lung and colorectal cancer.

Behind those numbers lies an even larger tragedy: in 2022, the World Health Organization reported that 1.3 million people died from viral hepatitis, the infection responsible for most liver cancers and cases of liver failure. These deaths are not due to a lack of knowledge or technology. They are the result of a global system that continues to react to disease rather than prevent it.

Liver cancer almost never appears out of nowhere. It develops after years — sometimes decades — of slow, silent damage. The main causes are chronic hepatitis B and C infections, fatty liver disease (often linked to obesity, diabetes, and poor diet), long-term alcohol use, and exposure to toxins or certain medications.

The liver has few pain nerves, so damage progresses quietly. By the time someone experiences fatigue, swelling, or yellowing of the eyes, the disease may already be advanced. Early detection — not luck — is what saves lives.

About 254 million people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B, and another 50 million with hepatitis C. These two viruses cause up to 80% of all liver cancer cases.

Hepatitis B is preventable with a vaccine. Hepatitis C is curable with oral medication. Yet most people infected are never tested or treated. The WHO estimates that, in 2022 alone, 1.3 million people died from complications of hepatitis — mostly cirrhosis and liver cancer.

That number reflects global neglect. Too many countries still lack vaccination programs, testing campaigns, or affordable access to antiviral therapy. Many people live for decades with infections they don’t know they have — until it’s too late.

Misinformation continues to cost lives. Some political figures and media voices still claim that hepatitis B is only transmitted sexually and that children don’t need vaccination. This is false — and deadly misinformation.

According to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common global routes of hepatitis B transmission are from mother to child at birth and between young children through small amounts of blood contact (such as shared toothbrushes or cuts). That is why the WHO recommends giving every newborn a hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, followed by the full infant series. Waiting until adolescence misses the most critical window of prevention.

Another harmful myth suggests that the hepatitis B vaccine causes autism. Decades of studies have disproven this claim. Reviews by the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, CDC, and multiple large-scale studies show no link between vaccines and autism. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective, and vital for preventing future liver cancer. When misinformation spreads faster than evidence, public health loses.

Modern healthcare is designed to treat — not to prevent. Liver cancer is often found by accident, during tests for something else. Even people known to have hepatitis or cirrhosis are not always monitored regularly.

In many low- and middle-income countries, a hepatitis test or ultrasound can cost more than a family earns in a week. Rural clinics lack vaccines. Hospitals have waiting lists for liver imaging. Meanwhile, billions are spent developing advanced cancer drugs, while basic prevention — like vaccination and screening — remains underfunded.

This is not about blaming doctors or patients. It’s about the structure of global health systems that prioritise treatment after the fact instead of protecting people before they fall ill.

Not every “liver cancer” begins in the liver. Because the liver filters blood from nearly every organ, it is a common site for metastases — cancers that spread from elsewhere. In colorectal cancer, the liver is the most frequent destination: about 25% of patients have liver metastases at diagnosis, and another 25% develop them later, meaning up to half of all colorectal cancer patients will experience liver involvement at some point. Breast, pancreatic, lung, and stomach cancers also commonly spread there. These cases are rarely counted in liver-cancer statistics, but they illustrate how central the liver is to overall cancer survival — and why protecting it matters far beyond hepatology.

While governments and global agencies must lead large-scale prevention programs, individuals can still take steps to protect their liver health. These are not luxuries — they’re basic rights that everyone should have access to.

1. Ask for hepatitis testing.
A simple blood test can show if you’ve ever been exposed to hepatitis B or C. If you’re negative for hepatitis B, get vaccinated. If you test positive for hepatitis C, effective treatment can cure it in most cases.

2. Know your liver numbers.
Routine blood tests such as ALT, AST, and bilirubin show how well your liver is working. Abnormal results may indicate inflammation or early damage — even when you feel fine.

3. Get an ultrasound if you have risk factors.
People with hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcohol dependence, or metabolic liver disease should have a liver ultrasound every six months. It’s quick, painless, and can detect tumors at a curable stage.

4. Watch for warning signs.
Unexplained fatigue, abdominal swelling, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or unexpected weight loss deserve medical attention. Early action makes a difference.

5. Protect your liver daily.
Limit alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, and be cautious with supplements or herbal “detox” products — many contain liver-toxic compounds. Use medications only as prescribed.

6. Vaccinate your children.
The hepatitis B vaccine at birth is safe and life-saving. Children who receive it are almost completely protected from the chronic infection that can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer later in life.

Liver cancer detected early can often be treated successfully — sometimes even cured. When it’s found while still localized to the liver, the five-year survival rate ranges between 70% and 84%, depending on the stage and treatment type. Once the cancer has spread to nearby organs or distant sites, survival drops sharply — to around 3–14%. This contrast makes early detection the single most important factor in saving lives.

If hepatitis testing, vaccination, and treatment were made truly universal, global models suggest that liver-cancer deaths could be cut nearly in half within a single generation. The World Health Organization’s 2024 Global Hepatitis Report projects a 45–60% reduction in liver-cancer mortality by 2045 if countries reach 90% hepatitis B vaccination coverage and 80% treatment access for people living with hepatitis B and C.

This isn’t speculation — it’s already been proven in practice. After Taiwan introduced national hepatitis B vaccination in 1984, childhood liver-cancer incidence fell by over 80% within 25 years. Similar declines are being documented in other regions that achieved high vaccine coverage and expanded hepatitis testing.

We don’t need new miracles. The tools to prevent most liver cancers already exist — we just need to use them everywhere.

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Sources:

1. Global Liver Cancer Stats
   GLOBOCAN 2022 (IARC/WHO) confirms ~900 000 new cases and ~830 000 deaths yearly.
   Fact sheet PDF (WHO)

2. 1.3 Million Hepatitis Deaths
   WHO Global Hepatitis Report 2024 reports 1.3 million deaths in 2022 from HBV/HCV complications.
   WHO Report 2024

3. 254 M HBV + 50 M HCV
   CDC Global Viral Hepatitis (2024) cites 254 million living with HBV and 50 million with HCV.
   CDC Global Hepatitis

4. 80 % from HBV/HCV
   ACS 2025 confirms 78–82 % of hepatocellular carcinomas linked to viral hepatitis.
   ACS Liver Cancer Causes

5. Mother-to-Child Transmission
   CDC (2025) lists vertical/perinatal (≈50 %) and early-childhood (≈30 %) routes.
   CDC Hepatitis B Transmission

6. Birth-Dose within 24 Hours
   WHO 2024 routine-immunization summary: “Administer a birth-dose ≤ 24 h after birth.”