Lifestyle factors are fueling an increase in liver cancer. Without intervention, cases of the disease could double in the next 25 years. The good news is that people can take steps to protect themselves.
October is recognized as Liver Cancer Awareness Month. We checked in with ThedaCare Cancer Care Oncologist and Hematologist Dr. Amir Bista, who shares key facts about the disease and prevention measures people can follow.
“An estimated 60% of liver cancer cases are preventable,” Dr. Bista says. “Through modifying lifestyle habits and getting vaccinated against hepatitis B, people may reduce their odds of developing the disease.”
Understanding the Uptick
According to an August 2025 medical journal The Lancet, the number of liver cancer cases in the United States is on course to rise from 870,000 in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050. That trajectory could change if people take steps to prevent the disease.
The increase in cases is linked to higher rates of alcohol usage, as well as obesity and obesity-related disease, including higher rates of diabetes and high cholesterol, the study found. The rise in cases also is attributable to increasing rates of hepatitis B and C.
Liver Cancer Causes
Chronic viral infections, including hepatitis B and C viruses, are the leading cause of liver cancer. Hepatitis B infections can be prevented through a vaccine, which provides long-term protection.
“Many people are vaccinated as a baby against hepatitis B. If you weren’t, you can be vaccinated as an adult,” Dr. Bista says. “It’s a simple way you can protect yourself from the virus and lower your chances of developing liver cancer.”
Hepatitis C also causes liver cancer, but there is not a vaccine to prevent the disease. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood and through sexual contact, though the latter is less common. To help prevent hepatitis C, people should abstain from sharing needles and use condoms during sex.
It’s also important to test for hepatitis C when it’s suspected and to treat the virus promptly. Medications that treat hepatitis C can eliminate the virus in many people and may lower their risk of developing liver cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Other leading liver cancer causes include:
- Cirrhosis, a condition that creates scar tissue in the liver
- Diabetes
- Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition affects up to 25% of American adults
- Excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to irreversible liver damage
Liver Cancer Symptoms
Most people don’t have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary liver cancer. When symptoms appear, they may include:
- Losing weight without trying
- Loss of appetite
- Upper abdominal pain
- General weakness and fatigue
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes
- White, chalky stools
Lab tests sometimes can pick up early signs of liver trouble. People with hepatitis, cirrhosis, heavy alcohol use or MASLD may be among those monitored for liver cancer.
“Talk to your doctor right away if you experience symptoms that concern you,” Dr. Bista says. “Your doctor or provider also may monitor you if you have conditions or risk factors that increase your odds of developing liver cancer.
Protecting Yourself
While the number of liver cancer cases is expected to increase, Dr. Bista says people can take several steps to lower their odds of developing it.
“Most causes of liver cancer are preventable, whether through vaccination or lifestyle changes,” he says.
Lifestyle modifications, including consuming less alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight, can protect people from developing liver cancer.
“One way to decrease your chances of developing cirrhosis — and to lower your risk of developing liver cancer and other cancers — is to drink alcohol in moderation, if at all,” Dr. Bista says.
Per the ACS, abstaining from alcohol is best. For those who choose to drink, men should have no more than two drinks per day and women no more than one drink per day.
Losing weight also can improve liver health and reduce the chance of developing liver cancer. The ThedaCare Weight Wellness program offers a range of solutions that can help people lose weight and keep it off.
“Oftentimes, the power to reduce your risk of developing cancer lies in your hands,” Dr. Bista says. “We encourage everyone to make positive choices for their health.”
