As the world marks Liver Cancer Awareness Month this October, a new report finds that people with hepatitis B and C have a significantly higher risk of developing cancer than those who smoke a pack a day.
That’s why the World Hepatitis Alliance urges communities to come together and raise their collective voice to raise awareness of the link between liver cancer and viral hepatitis. A report from the Center for Disease Analysis (CDA) confirms that hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses are highly carcinogenic and can cause cancer in multiple organs and sites.
It states that people infected with hepatitis B and C have “a similar or significantly higher risk of cancer than people who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.”
“Hepatitis B and C should be considered carcinogenic infections and international guidelines should be reconsidered accordingly,” the report said.
World Hepatitis Alliance CEO Cary James has called for hepatitis vaccination, testing, treatment and care to be integrated into national cancer prevention and control plans.
“Not only will this increase global hepatitis vaccination levels, it will also help save lives of liver cancer patients.”
He added that chronic viral hepatitis can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for 80% of all liver cancer cases and is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide.
“A recent World Health Assembly survey found that nearly half (42%) of people globally did not know that one of the leading causes of liver cancer is viral hepatitis. Most respondents said knowing that hepatitis causes liver cancer meant they were more likely to Likely to be tested for hepatitis (74%) and vaccinated against hepatitis (82%).”
Homie Razavi, managing director of the Foundation Center for Disease Analysis, describes hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections as silent epidemics.
“These viral infections can cause cancer, but most infections go unnoticed because it is too late before the infected person develops any symptoms. It is important for all of us to recognize that there is a risk associated with hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infection is associated with a high risk of cancer and keeps patients in care. Treatment can reduce the risk of cancer by 85% or more.”
According to the World Health Organization, viral hepatitis (including acute cases), cirrhosis and liver cancer caused 1.1 million deaths worldwide in 2019.
There are five different types of hepatitis viruses – hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis A and E are spread primarily through the ingestion of contaminated food and water, and the disease is often endemic in countries with a lack of safe water and poor sanitation. But it rarely becomes chronic.
Hepatitis B is spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, and approximately 296 million people are chronically infected.
Hepatitis C is mainly spread through blood contact, such as unsafe injection practices and inadequate sterilization of medical equipment.
“Today, 58 million people live with the disease. Hepatitis D is spread through contact with infected blood and occurs only in people who are already infected with hepatitis B,” WHO observed, while further emphasizing that the world’s In total, more than 350 million people suffer from viral hepatitis.
“More than one million people die each year from diseases related to acute hepatitis and chronic infections that lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis. “Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are the leading causes of liver cancer. “