Remembering Gregg Allman: Understanding Liver Cancer

The news

Gregg Allman — singer, organist, and co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band, one of the defining voices of Southern rock — died on May 27, 2017, at his home in Georgia at the age of 69. His death was publicly attributed to complications from liver cancer.

Allman had been open about his health over the years. He publicly shared that he was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2007, learned he had liver cancer, and underwent a liver transplant in 2010. He continued touring and recording for years afterward. Beyond what he and his representatives shared, the details of his care were his own.

Why people are talking about it

Allman's story connected dots that many people had never connected before: a hepatitis C infection, liver disease, and, eventually, liver cancer. Because he spoke about that chain of events openly, his story became a reason for fans to learn how liver cancer develops — and why liver health is worth paying attention to long before anything goes wrong.

What this cancer means

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer that starts in the liver is called primary liver cancer, and the most common type in adults is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Worldwide, liver cancer is among the most common cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

NCI explains that HCC typically develops in people with chronic, long-lasting liver disease — most often caused by hepatitis virus infection or cirrhosis, a condition in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. Risk factors NCI lists include chronic hepatitis B infection, chronic hepatitis C infection, cirrhosis, and heavy alcohol use. NCI notes that chronic hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver cancer in North America, and that people with multiple risk factors have an even higher risk. It also notes the reverse is true: some people develop liver cancer with no known risk factors at all.

Awareness, screening & prevention

There are practical, NCI-supported threads here. Hepatitis B vaccination in infancy is reducing hepatitis B infections, which are a major cause of liver cancer globally. Hepatitis C spreads through blood, and today donated blood is tested for it — and knowing whether you carry the virus is something a simple blood test can answer. Because heavy alcohol use can cause cirrhosis, which raises liver cancer risk, drinking less protects the liver too.

NCI also notes that certain medical tests can be used to look for liver cancer in some situations, though not all screening tests are helpful and many carry risks — decisions best made with a doctor, especially for people with chronic liver disease. In the meantime, our free screening check-up tool can show which cancer screenings are generally recommended at your age.

Common questions

Does hepatitis always lead to liver cancer? No. NCI describes hepatitis B and C as risk factors — they raise risk, especially when they cause long-term liver damage, but most people with hepatitis never develop liver cancer. Treating and monitoring hepatitis matters precisely because of this link.

Did Gregg Allman's past cause his cancer? His publicly shared history included hepatitis C, which NCI lists as a risk factor. But no one can assign a cause in an individual case, and his story is better used for learning than for judgment.

Can you get liver cancer after a transplant? Allman publicly shared that his cancer was addressed with a transplant in 2010 and that he faced cancer again afterward. Every situation is different; questions like this belong with a healthcare team.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Should I be tested for hepatitis B or hepatitis C?
• Do I have risk factors for liver disease or cirrhosis, and can we monitor my liver health?
• Would liver cancer surveillance make sense for someone with my history?
• What changes — including around alcohol — would most protect my liver?