“Can liver disease lead to cancer?”
Is it possible for liver disease lead to cancer? My father was just diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and I want to know if he's at an increased risk for any cancers.
1 Answer
Any patient with cirrhosis of any cause is at increased risk for hepatocellular cancer/liver cancer, to the degree that the standard of care of cirrhotic patients includes an ultrasound of the abomen, and (optionally) a blood test every six months, which allows the detection of cancer at an early enough stage in most cases to significantly improve chances of cure, or at least noncurative but meanignfull treatment. Certain causes of cirrhosis, including hepatitis B and C, active alcohol consumption, fatty liver from the Western diet can increase further the risk of cancer in cirrhotics, and conversely significant changes in diet and lifestyle and possibly certain supplements---notably including coffee, can lessen but not eliminate the chances of cancer in cirrhotic patients.
