Liver Cancer Awareness Month: Understanding a Cancer Closely Tied to the Liver's Health

What this observance is

Every October, Liver Cancer Awareness Month draws attention to cancers that begin in the liver and bile ducts. Organizations including the American Liver Foundation and the Hepatitis B Foundation use the month to encourage people to think about liver health, understand the risk factors, and talk with a healthcare professional. The tone is practical rather than alarming: liver cancer is closely connected to conditions that can often be identified and managed.

What this cancer is

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer that starts in the liver is called primary liver cancer. NCI explains that the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A related cancer, bile duct cancer (also called cholangiocarcinoma), begins in the tubes that connect the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. NCI notes that hepatocellular carcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, which is part of why awareness efforts exist.

The liver is a large organ that performs many essential jobs, from filtering the blood to helping with digestion. When cancer develops there, it can affect how the liver functions, which is why understanding the disease matters.

Screening and prevention (per NCI)

NCI is clear that there is no standard or routine screening test for liver cancer in the general population. It describes several tests — ultrasound, CT scans, and the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker — that are used or studied to look for liver cancer, particularly in people at higher risk, but it emphasizes that screening decisions depend on individual risk and should be discussed with a doctor. NCI also notes that not all screening tests are helpful and most carry some risk, so these choices are best made with a healthcare professional.

On prevention, NCI's broader Cancer Causes and Prevention information notes that hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses increase the risk of liver cancer, and that tobacco use is linked to liver cancer as well. This is why much of the public-awareness effort around liver cancer focuses on hepatitis prevention, testing, and care. If you are curious about your own risk, our free screening check-up tool is a gentle place to start before a conversation with your clinician.

How to take part

• If you have a known liver condition such as chronic hepatitis, ask your healthcare team what monitoring, if any, is right for you.
• Learn whether hepatitis B vaccination or hepatitis testing is relevant for you or your family.
• If you use tobacco, consider quitting smoking — NCI links tobacco to liver cancer among many other cancers.
• Share accurate information during October to help others understand this often under-discussed cancer.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Do I have any risk factors for liver cancer, such as chronic hepatitis, that I should be monitoring?
• Should I be tested for hepatitis B or C, and is the hepatitis B vaccine appropriate for me?
• Are there changes in my health, such as unexplained weight loss or abdominal discomfort, that I should report?
• Where can I find reliable information about keeping my liver healthy?