Viral hepatitis infection is the most common risk factor for liver cancer, the 4th most common cancer in the world. Chronic viral hepatitis can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for 80% of all liver cancer cases and is the third most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide.
A new report from the Centre for Disease Analysis (CDA) Foundation* finds that individuals living with hepatitis B and C have a significantly higher risk of developing cancer than someone smoking one pack of cigarettes per day.
Despite this, nearly half (42%) of people globally are not aware that one of the leading causes of liver cancer is viral hepatitis – according to research by the World Hepatitis Alliance**.
This October, for Liver Cancer Awareness Month, the hepatitis and the cancer communities must come together to raise their collective voice to increase awareness of liver cancer’s connection to viral hepatitis and call for greater action.
Hepatitis vaccination, testing, treatment and care should be integrated into national cancer prevention and control strategies and programmes. Hepatitis B and C should be “considered as cancer causing infections and international guidelines should be reconsidered accordingly” (CDA).