Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is a cancer of the digestive system that forms in the body’s largest internal organ. The liver breaks down and stores many of the nutrients absorbed from the intestine that your body needs to function. It also breaks down alcohol, drugs and toxic wastes in the blood that are then excreted from the body.

Primary liver cancer originates in the liver; however, most cancers in the liver have started elsewhere but have spread—known as secondary or metastatic liver cancer. The most common risk factor for liver cancer is chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Other factors, such as genetics, alcohol and tobacco use, obesity and Type 2 diabetes can lead to liver cancer.

Testing may be recommended for people who are at higher risk, but there currently is no screening for someone with average risk of liver cancer.

More Resources for Liver Cancer Education:

• American Cancer Society
• The Mayo Clinic