Liver cancer is serious and often life-threatening. While most know alcohol harms the liver, fewer realize diet and infections like hepatitis also raise cancer risk. This article explains how alcohol, food, and liver diseases like fatty liver and hepatitis A, B, and C relate to liver cancer, and how to protect your health.

What Does the Liver Do?

Your liver filters toxins, aids digestion, stores nutrients, and supports immunity. Since everything you eat or drink goes through the liver, poor choices can cause lasting harm.

What Is Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer, often hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), usually starts in already damaged livers. Conditions like cirrhosis, fatty liver, or hepatitis can set the stage. Preventing this damage is key.

Alcohol and Liver Cancer

Too much alcohol is a major liver cancer. The liver creates toxic byproducts when breaking it down, damaging cells and leading to cirrhosis.

Key facts:

• Chronic alcohol use is a top cause of cirrhosis.
• Cirrhosis sharply raises cancer risk.
• Even moderate drinking is risky if you have liver disease.

Guidelines:

• Women: no more than 1 drink/day
• Men: no more than 2 drinks/day
• Best to avoid alcohol entirely if you have liver disease.

Diet and Liver Health

Your diet plays a huge role in liver health.

Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD/NASH)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (and its severe form, NASH) is rising due to poor diets and inactivity. These can lead to scarring and cancer, even without alcohol.

Tips:

• Lose weight gradually (5–10% can help).
• Eat a Mediterranean-style diet: vegetables, grains, fish, and olive oil.
• Avoid sugary drinks, fast food, and fried foods.
• Exercise most days (30 mins).
• Limit or avoid alcohol.

Lifestyle changes can reverse early-stage fatty liver.

Hepatitis A, B, and C

Hepatitis A

• Spreads through contaminated food or water.
• Short-term, doesn’t cause chronic liver damage or cancer.
• Get vaccinated, especially if you have liver disease.

Hepatitis B

• Spreads through blood, sex, or childbirth.
• It can be chronic and lead to cancer.

Prevention & Care:

• Regular checkups
• Avoid alcohol
• Take prescribed antivirals
• Vaccinate close contacts
• Eat well and stay active

Hepatitis C

• Spreads through blood (e.g., needles).
• Often symptomless until serious damage occurs.
  Key actions:
• Get treated — 95% cure rate
• Avoid alcohol
• Eat healthy, exercise
• Vaccinate for Hep A & B
• Screen liver regularly

Liver Cancer Prevention: What You Can Do

✅ Avoid or limit alcohol
✅ Eat liver-friendly foods: vegetables, grains, lean protein, healthy fats
✅ Lose excess weight
✅ Exercise regularly
✅ Get vaccinated for hepatitis A & B
✅ Know and treat hepatitis B or C
✅ Avoid risky behaviors (unsafe needles/tattoos)
✅ Use meds wisely
✅ Screen regularly if you're at risk

Early Detection Can Make a Real Difference

Early detection can make a real difference. At OncoCare, we offer more than just liver screening — our care is designed to support you at every stage.

Our senior medical oncologists bring deep expertise in liver and gastrointestinal cancers, ensuring you receive thoughtful, personalised treatment. If you're facing a diagnosis, we also provide second opinions to help you make informed, confident decisions.

For those with concerns about inherited risk, we offer cancer genetic testing to guide prevention and treatment strategies.

To learn more or book a consultation, visit here.