<p>New Delhi: More than three of every five liver cancer cases in the world can be prevented by addressing risk factors, such as hepatitis, alcohol habits and non-alcoholic fatty liver conditions, according to an analysis report of The Lancet Commission on the fatal disease.</p>.<p>Researchers from The Hong Kong Cancer Institute, Fudan University, and others in China, South Korea, the US and Europe authored the report.</p>.<p>The team predicted a 35 per cent increase in liver cancer driven by a severe form of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease that is caused by excess fat in the liver and called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.</p>.<p>Liver cancer is among the top three types of cancer deaths in 46 countries, according to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Hepatology.</p>.<p>The Lancet Commission's findings present a huge opportunity for countries to target risk factors such as viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity to prevent liver cancer and save lives, said first author Stephen Chan, a professor at the department of clinical oncology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.</p>.From health insurance to the struggles of families: Cancer's hidden costs.<p>The authors of the report said that an increased public, medical and political awareness on the rising risk of fatty liver conditions, with a focus on people having diabetes and obesity, especially in the US, Europe and Asia, is needed.</p>.<p>A growing population, combined with an increasing prevalence of risk factors, is expected to drive a rise in cases of liver cancer globally, with studies projecting an around 55 per cent rise in such cases by 2040.</p>.<p>The commission report sets a target of reducing yearly cases by two per cent to five per cent -- potentially preventing up to 17 million liver cancer cases and up to 15 million deaths, it said.</p>.<p>Intensified efforts to increase vaccination and screening for hepatitis B and C, along with policies restricting alcohol consumption, are among the strategies that the report recommends.</p>.<p>It also suggested an increased investment by national health authorities and cancer control programmes in public awareness campaigns and early detection of cases.</p>.<p>Palliative (pain-related) care training should be provided to staff at hospitals and professional organisations, and should be integrated in the early phases for patients in need, the report said.</p>.<p>"We estimated that at least 60 per cent of liver cancers are preventable via control of modifiable risk factors, including (hepatitis B virus), (hepatitis C virus), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and alcohol," the report stated. </p>
<p>New Delhi: More than three of every five liver cancer cases in the world can be prevented by addressing risk factors, such as hepatitis, alcohol habits and non-alcoholic fatty liver conditions, according to an analysis report of The Lancet Commission on the fatal disease.</p>.<p>Researchers from The Hong Kong Cancer Institute, Fudan University, and others in China, South Korea, the US and Europe authored the report.</p>.<p>The team predicted a 35 per cent increase in liver cancer driven by a severe form of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease that is caused by excess fat in the liver and called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.</p>.<p>Liver cancer is among the top three types of cancer deaths in 46 countries, according to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Hepatology.</p>.<p>The Lancet Commission's findings present a huge opportunity for countries to target risk factors such as viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity to prevent liver cancer and save lives, said first author Stephen Chan, a professor at the department of clinical oncology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.</p>.From health insurance to the struggles of families: Cancer's hidden costs.<p>The authors of the report said that an increased public, medical and political awareness on the rising risk of fatty liver conditions, with a focus on people having diabetes and obesity, especially in the US, Europe and Asia, is needed.</p>.<p>A growing population, combined with an increasing prevalence of risk factors, is expected to drive a rise in cases of liver cancer globally, with studies projecting an around 55 per cent rise in such cases by 2040.</p>.<p>The commission report sets a target of reducing yearly cases by two per cent to five per cent -- potentially preventing up to 17 million liver cancer cases and up to 15 million deaths, it said.</p>.<p>Intensified efforts to increase vaccination and screening for hepatitis B and C, along with policies restricting alcohol consumption, are among the strategies that the report recommends.</p>.<p>It also suggested an increased investment by national health authorities and cancer control programmes in public awareness campaigns and early detection of cases.</p>.<p>Palliative (pain-related) care training should be provided to staff at hospitals and professional organisations, and should be integrated in the early phases for patients in need, the report said.</p>.<p>"We estimated that at least 60 per cent of liver cancers are preventable via control of modifiable risk factors, including (hepatitis B virus), (hepatitis C virus), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and alcohol," the report stated. </p>