Factors that increase the risk of liver cancer

According to Dr. Le Thi Gam, Northern Medical Manager, VNVC Vaccination System, liver cancer currently has the highest incidence rate in Vietnam with 26,500 cases per year, accounting for 14.5% of total cancer cases. mail… In addition to alcohol and tobacco, the following factors are also related to this disease:

Have hepatitis B

According to statistics, about 80% of patients with liver cancer develop from hepatitis B. Hepatitis B virus continuously attacks the liver, increasing the production of inflammatory substances, leading to an increased rate of natural death of liver cells. and generate new liver cells. From there, the virus promotes the risk of spontaneous mutation, forming eccentric liver cells that lead to cancer.

On the other hand, people with hepatitis B need to be examined and treated according to the doctor’s regimen and take antiviral medication. However, many people quit treatment or switched to taking traditional medicine and leaves, following advice that caused the virus to multiply massively, progressing to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Ale

Ethanol in alcohol is classified as a carcinogen. Once in the body, alcohol is oxidized into acetaldehyde, a carcinogen that can cause gene damage. Drinking too much alcohol also causes the liver to work harder. Over time, the liver will be overloaded, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Alcohol also slows down the body’s ability to decompose and eliminate toxic chemicals, making it easier for chemicals in cigarettes to penetrate cells, creating conditions for cancer cells to form and grow.

Cigarette

In cigarette smoke there are chemicals such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, benzene, acetaldehyde, nitrosamine, vinyl chloride… These substances can enter the blood, affecting many organs in the body, including the liver.

Smoking increases the production of substances that damage liver cells, causing cirrhosis to progress more strongly. When CO gas in cigarette smoke enters the blood, it will bind tightly to hemoglobin, causing red blood cells to reduce their ability to carry oxygen, gradually causing cells to lack oxygen, stimulating the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and increasing absorption. iron from the intestines. When there is an excess of iron, it will cause secondary iron overload and promote oxidation that destroys liver cells.

Mold

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Aflatoxin B1 toxin found in moldy rice, corn, beans, peanuts, sunflowers, almonds, walnuts, black pepper, ginger… can mutate the DNA chain. and causes liver cancer in humans. When absorbed into the body, Aflatoxin attacks the liver, damaging the liver cell epithelium. People exposed to Aflatoxin for a long time have a higher risk of liver cancer and gallbladder cancer than people with less exposure.

Prepared foods

A study published in the American Library of Medicine (2024) in 453 cases of liver cancer in the US over 14 years, showed that the disease is linked to processed foods such as processed cereals and French fries. , bacon, sausage, ham, fried beef, fried chicken, burgers, pizza, soup…

These foods are low in nutrients, low in fiber and vitamins, while high in saturated fat, energy, sugar and salt. When used a lot, the above dishes cause overweight and obesity, causing fat to accumulate in the liver, forming fatty liver, which over time turns into chronic hepatitis, leading to cancer.

In addition, processed foods often use colorants, color stabilizers, flavorings, sweeteners and additives, including emulsifiers, sodium nitrate and artificial sweeteners. … is linked to liver cancer.

Dirty water source

Drinking heavily polluted pond, lake, river, and stream water, water with high concentrations of Chlorine (Cl2) and Chloroform (CHCl3) will increase the risk of liver cancer. Chemicals that promote cell mutation. People who drink contaminated pond water have the highest incidence of liver cancer, 2.34 times higher than the incidence in people who drink tap water.

How to prevent

According to Dr. Cam, people can prevent the disease by limiting alcohol consumption, smoking, and using clean water sources. People should improve their physical health through a healthy and nutritious diet, regular exercise, and avoid overweight and obesity.

Doctors recommend regular screening for liver cancer to detect the disease early, helping to have a high rate of successful treatment. When unfortunately suffering from hepatitis B or liver cancer, patients need to follow the treatment regimen, not listen to advice, folk treatment makes the disease worse.

To prevent hepatitis B, everyone should get vaccinated. Currently, Vietnam has many types of hepatitis B vaccines for children and adults including Heberbiovac HB (Cuba) and Gene Hbvax (Vietnam), Twinrix (Belgium) to prevent hepatitis A and B in one injection; Combined vaccine has hepatitis B components such as 5 in 1, 6 in 1 for children. Adults receive three vaccinations within 6 months, tested for hepatitis B before vaccination. Children need to be vaccinated against hepatitis B within 24 hours after birth, then they need to closely follow the vaccination schedule such as 5-in-1 vaccine or 6-in-1 vaccine.