What should you pay attention to in preventing liver cancer? Pay attention to these things to keep you away from liver cancer

Liver cancer is a disease that is very harmful to human health, and the treatment cycle of this disease is also relatively long. Therefore, it is necessary to do a good job in preventing related diseases. So which groups of people are prone to this disease? The following is an introduction to the groups of people who are prone to liver cancer for your reference.

Who are the high-risk groups for liver cancer?

Drinking water is unhealthy

Water is an important substance for maintaining the normal survival of human organisms. Water itself certainly does not cause tumors, but epidemiological surveys have shown that the degree of drinking water pollution is positively correlated with the incidence of liver cancer. This undoubtedly indicates that there are carcinogens in the water source, and it may be the combined effect of multiple carcinogens, such as humic acid, blue-green algae toxins, etc.

People living in difficult conditions

The occurrence of liver cancer has an occupational characteristic, and farmers have the highest incidence and mortality rates. Some people say that in China, liver cancer and stomach cancer are diseases caused by poverty, and people with poor economic conditions are more likely to suffer from "liver cancer", which makes sense.

Gene mutation

Mutagens and viruses in the environment stimulate the activation of liver cell division response pathways, causing point mutations and gene translocations in cells, which are possible factors that accelerate the proliferation of cancer cells.

Chronic alcoholism

Long-term alcohol abuse can significantly damage liver cells and lead to malnutrition, making the liver prone to cirrhosis, which can develop into liver cancer. Of course, in addition to the above-mentioned dietary factors, hepatitis B, parasitic diseases in the liver (such as Clonorchis sinensis), and genetic susceptibility are also closely related to the occurrence of liver cancer. It should be pointed out here that when the above two factors come into play, liver cancer is more likely to occur, such as hepatitis B and aflatoxin exposure, which will cause the disease faster. Alcohol poisoning can also cause alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis. In alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis, the reduction of Kupffer cells can increase the occurrence of liver cell carcinoma.

People with a family history of liver cancer

On the one hand, many inherited diseases that damage the liver, such as pigmentation disease and glycogen storage disease, will develop into cirrhosis, and the incidence of liver cancer is also very high; on the other hand, it is believed that the familial clustering of liver cancer is mainly caused by the clustering of hepatitis B virus. There is currently no evidence that liver cancer can be inherited.

Post-hepatitis cirrhosis

More than 50% of patients with cirrhosis develop cancer, and most of them have recurrent symptoms, poor liver function improvement, and frequent complications such as ascites.

Insufficient intake of trace elements

Current research on the relationship between trace elements and liver cancer has found that the mortality rate from liver cancer is negatively correlated with the selenium content in the environment and with the blood selenium level of residents. Animal experiments have shown that selenium can block aflatoxin-induced liver cancer in rats and ducks.

How to prevent liver cancer?

Liver cancer is almost the easiest to prevent. Preventing the spread of hepatitis B or C is the most effective measure to prevent liver cancer. Secondly, liver cancer is almost the easiest to diagnose early. Physical examination twice a year, one B-ultrasound examination and alpha-fetoprotein. In addition, liver cancer is almost the easiest to achieve a curative effect through minimally invasive treatment. Local ablation treatment for liver cancer has been developed for nearly 30 years, and radiofrequency ablation treatment has developed into one of the three major curative methods along with liver resection and liver transplantation.

So what should we pay attention to in preventing liver cancer?

1. Hepatitis B vaccine injection

The infection rate of hepatitis B virus in the Chinese population is as high as over 13%. Once infected with hepatitis B, there is currently no complete cure. Therefore, preventing hepatitis is one of the most important measures to prevent liver cancer. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted through body fluids (such as blood, secretions, etc.). In addition to paying attention to the hygiene of blood products and not sharing razors and toothbrushes with others, vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine is the simplest and most effective prevention method. Not only children need to be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine when they are born, but adults who have not been vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine and have not had hepatitis can also be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine.

2. Do not eat moldy food

Moldy foods often contain aflatoxin, which is also one of the important factors that promote liver cancer. Moldy foods, such as moldy corn, peanuts, melon seeds, etc., contain more aflatoxin and should not be eaten.

3. Good lifestyle

Reduce nitrosamine intake and quit smoking and drinking. Excessive drinking can easily lead to alcoholic hepatitis, reduce immune function, and damage the liver's detoxification function.

4. Regular inspection

If someone in the family has liver cancer or other types of tumors, other family members should pay special attention. In addition to the cancer prevention measures mentioned above (preventing hepatitis, not eating moldy food, etc.), you should also develop a good habit of regular physical examinations. Every 6 months, go to the hospital for an abdominal B-ultrasound examination + serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFp) examination. It is recommended that men over 40 years old or women over 50 years old, people who drink alcohol for a long time, and diabetic patients go to the hospital for a physical examination every year.