The incidence of liver cancer is increasing exponentially

Viruses, alcohol and modern lifestyle take a toll on the liver, the end result of which is cancer.

Liver cancer takes fifth in frequency and second in mortality in the world: more than 500,000 people are diagnosed with it every year, and about 800,000 people die from it every year. Over the next 20 years, it is estimated that we will have at least a 60% increase in the incidence of this extremely deadly neoplasm, which places a significant strain on both the population and health systems.

This conclusion was made by the Hellenic Association for the Study of the Liver (Ελληνική Εταιρεία Μελέτης του Ήπατος, EEMI). Doctors have begun to create the first registration database of hepatocellular cancer at the Greek level, collecting data from several hundred patients. The aim of the researchers is informing the general public about the prevention and early diagnosis of this specific diseaseso that patients can be drawn to therapeutic interventions that sometimes promise a cure from this extremely dangerous neoplasm.

As EEMI points out, despite breakthroughs in the treatment of this type of cancer, even at its most advanced stages, prevention and early diagnosis are critical to solving the problem.

This is possible, since liver cancer begins to develop with chronic liver disease, which patients, in most cases, do not know about. Typically, most of these patients have some form of chronic viral hepatitis (most commonly hepatitis B or C), excessive drinking, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (fatty liver disease). The latter is a modern epidemic of the industrialized world and usually occurs in patients with obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

With respect to viral hepatitis, daily preventive practices can help prevent, as can hepatitis B vaccination. In addition, early diagnosis of hepatitis B, C, and D, for which there is currently effective treatment, can slow the progression of liver disease.

In addition, health education regarding rational use of alcohol and eating behavior, in combination with physical exercises, can improve the overall health of patients along with a reduction in fatty liver disease, which is the most common modern cause of neoplasms.

For patients diagnosed with some form of chronic liver disease, screening with liver ultrasound and individual laboratory tests can lead to early diagnosis of the neoplasm at very early stages, when there are treatment options that even lead to a cure, which is extremely important for such patients. patients.

It is emphasized that prevention through special tests, reliable information about risk factors, proper lifestyle and regular communication with your doctor are the proper “shield” of protection against liver cancer. In addition, in recent years there has been a significant progress at the diagnostic and therapeutic level.

As doctors emphasize, “it is necessary to inform the population about the importance of vaccination against hepatitis B, the extremely safe and effective treatment of hepatitis C, the great benefits reduce obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. As well as informing patients with chronic liver disease to stop their alcohol abuse.

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