“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨'𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫? 𝐇𝐨𝐰?”

This question has raised a lot of interest recently. Let me give some perspective and hopefully some answers to this question, too.

Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers. It is in the top 7 most common cancers in the world, alongside breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and thyroid cancer.

Before we dive deeper, it’s important to understand the difference between a ‘cause’ and a ‘risk factor’ when it comes to diseases. Since we’re talking about liver cancer, we’ll focus on that.

What's The Cause of Liver Cancer?

For Liver Cancer, there's no known particular cause; we only have risk factors.

A “cause” is something that is the direct reason a medical condition happened, while a “risk factor” is something that makes it more ‘likely’, but not automatic, that a condition will happen. I hope you grab? Let's continue.

For example, the parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted through mosquito bites, is the “cause” of malaria, while smoking is a ‘risk factor’ for lung cancer. That means if someone has malaria, we know for sure that Plasmodium caused it; but if someone has lung cancer, we can only speculate that smoking contributed to it, we don’t know for sure.

This explanation above is critical because there is NO KNOWN CAUSE OF LIVER CANCER. On the other hand, we have risk factors for Liver cancer. Anything that's a risk factor has a high tendency to damage the Liver permanently, and by extension, has the capacity to cause Liver Cancer, also called Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The individual asked why a person would have Liver cancer when he does not drink alcohol? Ordinarily, excessive alcohol consumption can damage the liver and lead to liver cancer.

So, here lies the crux of the question:

How would someone who doesn't take alcohol develop Liver answer?

Risk Factors Of Lung Cancer

In hepatic pathologies or diseases, several risk factors can contribute or predispose one to having Liver cancer even without prior chronic intake of alcohol.

According to what science of the Liver says, someone can have Liver cancer even without chronic intake of alcohol. Let's take a look at the other risk factors that can culminate in Liver cancer.

• Hepatitis B and C infections

Chronic infections of the liver like hepatitis B and hepatitis C can predispose one to having Liver Cancer.

These specific Hepatitis viruses can be contacted in many ways where there is sharing of blood and body fluids such as unprotected sex with an infected partner,through infected blood transfusion in a hospital, sharing needles with people, sharing unsterilized hair clippers, and going for unhygienic pedicure/manicure.

Tattooing in unsafe shops that don’t sterilise their equipment, high risk sexual practices like anal sex (also sex during menstrual flow, rough vagina sex, oral sex with someone that has mouth sores) among other things is also part.

Unfortunately hepatitis C has no vaccine though it is treatable. The goodnews is that hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccination.

• Aflatoxins

Aflatoxins are food borne fungal toxins found mainly in contaminated peas like groundnuts and in maize. In many low and middle income countries,

Aflatoxins are carcinogens, with abilities to cause mutation in cells resulting in cancer growth, the Liver cells included. The best way to avoid it is to always eat fresh fruits/corn and cook your food well. Aflatoxins cause Liver Cancer, too.

• Inherited Genetic Conditions

Other ways a person can have high risk for liver cancer is if they have some medical conditions which they inherited in their family like hemochromatosis, alpha-1 anti trypsin deficiency, or if they have a high likelihood for liver cancer due to their genetics. There is not much that a person can do about this.

• Metabolic disorders

Obesity and being overweight are critical drivers of metabolic disorders such as diabetes Mellitus, insulin resistance, etc. So, avoid being overweight, desist from smoking, exercise regularly and avoid the use of body building medicines such as steroids.

Obesity, overweight and chronic steroids have been highlighted as risk factors for Liver Cancer.

Conclusion

A key important takeaway from here is this: people who do not take alcohol or those who are chronic alcoholics still stand a chance of having Liver cancer if other high risk factors are present and active in the Liver, eventually leading to Liver cancer.

So let me advise you, should you you don't take alcohol and yet you are afraid of coming down with Liver cancer.

Please go for hepatitis B vaccination now if you don’t have one or you don’t know if you do. Hepatitis B vaccine prevents hepatitis B infection and can prevent liver cancer. You can get the vaccine at any good hospital near you.

Hepatitis C unfortunately has no vaccine but it is treatable if found. Either way, the best bet for you is to take blood tests to check for hepatitis B and C in standard medical laboratory with professional scientists.

Again, do not have sexual interactions with people whose sexual health you aren't aware off without condoms. Maintain a healthy weight, eat healthy and ensure you do regular Liver checks too.

Now that you know someone who doesnt take alcohol can have Liver cancer, GO AND DO HEPATITIS B and C blood tests. ALSO GO GET HEPATITIS B VACCINE. This may be the best thing you do for yourself to prevent liver cancer.

This Piece Was Written By Dr. Alexander Oshiokhai Obanaedo, a Pharmacist and Public health advocate in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.