Two aspects to effectively prevent liver cancer Four groups of people should pay attention to preventing liver cancer

Primary liver cancer (hereinafter referred to as liver cancer) is one of the major cancers that seriously threatens human health and life. Liver cancer usually refers to primary liver cancer, while secondary liver cancer or metastatic liver cancer is usually named and treated according to the name of the primary cancer. For example, if liver metastasis originates from the colon, we say that it is liver metastasis of colon cancer, and this liver metastasis is treated as colon cancer; if it originates from lung cancer, that is, liver metastasis of lung cancer, it is treated as lung cancer. my country is a country with a high incidence of liver cancer, accounting for more than 50% of liver cancer in the world. Both the incidence and mortality rates rank first in the world. About 110,000 people die from liver cancer in China each year, accounting for more than half of the deaths from liver cancer in the world.

Prevention of liver cancer mainly focuses on two levels. One is to take primary prevention measures against the cause or risk factors. The other is to reduce the mortality rate of liver cancer through early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment through screening, which is the so-called secondary prevention.

1. Primary prevention measures: measures taken against risk factors for liver cancer

Prevention of hepatitis virus infection and antiviral treatment are the most effective preventive measures for liver cancer. For those who are not infected with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis B vaccination should be carried out; the emergence of safe and effective hepatitis B vaccine and routine vaccination of newborns are expected to significantly reduce the incidence of liver cancer caused by HBV in 30 to 40 years. For those who are confirmed to be carriers of hepatitis virus, the level of hepatitis virus should be monitored regularly, and antiviral treatment should be carried out according to the level of hepatitis virus DNA replication.

To prevent liver cancer, it is best to quit smoking and drinking. The benefits of quitting smoking are well known, so I won't go into details here. Excessive drinking can lead to alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, so quitting drinking is the most effective way to prevent alcoholic cirrhosis. At the same time, you should also avoid eating moldy food and improve food and water hygiene.

2. Secondary prevention measures: early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment through screening

Commonly used technical means and measures for liver cancer screening: Regular screening of high-risk groups for liver cancer using serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFp) testing combined with real-time liver ultrasound examination is more suitable for my country's national conditions.

(1) Serum AFp level detection:

AFp is currently recognized as the most specific liver cancer marker. Serum AFp examination has been used as a liver cancer screening method for decades. The method is simple and inexpensive. However, a considerable number of patients will be missed when relying solely on AFp examination. It is generally recommended to combine liver cancer screening with ultrasound examination.

(2) Liver ultrasound examination:

Small liver cancers with a diameter of 1 to 2 cm can be detected, but this is related to the experience of the ultrasound doctor and the performance of the ultrasound instrument itself. It is non-invasive, easy to operate, and relatively cheap.

To prevent liver cancer, these four groups of people should pay attention

The first group of people: smokers and drinkers

The incidence of liver cirrhosis is higher in smokers and alcoholics, and the relationship between liver cirrhosis and liver cancer is very close. The formation and aggravation of liver cirrhosis will inevitably lead to liver cancer. Strictly speaking, drinking is not the direct cause of the disease, but drinking is an assistant or salesman of carcinogens, which can promote the carcinogenic effect of carcinogens and inhibit the function of the immune system.

The second group of people: Hepatitis B patients

Epidemiological statistics show that areas where hepatitis B is prevalent are often also areas with a high incidence of liver cancer. People who have had hepatitis B are indeed more likely to develop liver cancer than those who have not had hepatitis B. The risk is as high as 10.7 times.

The third group of people: middle-aged and elderly people

Most liver cancers occur after the age of 40, because the effects of carcinogenic factors require a process of accumulation, which can even take decades. Therefore, liver cancer patients are mostly middle-aged and elderly people, and the age group with a high incidence is between 50 and 60 years old.

The fourth group of people: those who eat unclean food

Long-term consumption of moldy food, food containing nitrite, and lack of trace element selenium in food are also important factors that promote liver cancer. Aflatoxin in moldy food is the main factor inducing cancer. Aflatoxin is the only substance that has been clearly proven to be carcinogenic so far. It is also one of the auxiliary causes of liver cancer. Nitrite exists in many foods in nature. The average nitrite content in vegetables is about 4 mg/kg, and beans are even higher, reaching 10 mg/kg. Nitrite salts will not accumulate in the body, they can be excreted through urine, and nitrite in daily diet will not cause harm to the human body. A large amount of nitrite can cause great harm to the human body. It can be converted into nitrosamines, which have a clear carcinogenic effect.