What are the causes of liver cancer? 7 things you should know about the causes of liver cancer

my country is one of the countries with a high incidence of primary liver cancer, with an annual incidence of 5-10/100,000 people. About 300,000 people die from primary liver cancer each year, ranking third among all malignant tumors. The incidence in the southeast coastal areas is higher than that in the inland areas, with the highest incidence in Guangxi, Jiangsu and a certain place in Guangdong, and the lowest in Yunnan and Guizhou. The incidence in men is higher than that in women, with a male-to-female ratio of about 2-8:1. In the past, it was generally believed that the high-incidence age of liver cancer was 40-60 years old, but clinical cases in recent years have confirmed that patients have gradually become younger. The author has treated two 13-year-old patients. Therefore, the current high-incidence age of liver cancer is generally believed to have moved forward ten years, that is, 30-60 years old. This is related to the environmental deterioration in recent years and many factors, and the higher the incidence area, the lower the age.

The causes of liver cancer are mostly hepatitis and aflatoxin

The factors that cause liver cancer are very complex. More than 50% of liver cancer is caused by hepatitis, mainly hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection. More than 20% of liver cancer is caused by bad living habits such as alcoholism. Other causes include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by obesity and other factors.

It is worth noting that peanut oil, which is used by most citizens, can also induce liver cancer. Peanut oil contains aflatoxin, which is harmful to the human body if not heated. Long-term consumption can induce liver cancer. It is understood that bulk peanut oil is prone to excessive aflatoxin due to restrictions on production processes and testing methods. Even peanut oil purchased in a formal manner will produce aflatoxin after being left for a long time.

Peanut oil must be heated before consumption and cannot be poured directly into food. "At least after the iron pan is heated, pour the peanut oil on it and wait for blue smoke to come out. This will remove aflatoxin." And be sure not to use peanut oil that is too stale.

Summary of 7 causes of liver cancer

(1) Viral hepatitis: mainly hepatitis B and C virus infection, especially hepatitis B and hepatitis B virus carriers.

(2) Aflatoxin (AFT): Aflatoxin is the most important carcinogen. Long-term consumption of foods containing this toxin can induce liver cancer.

(3) Water pollution: Severe pollution of drinking water is one of the important causes of liver cancer.

(4) Chemical carcinogens: Chemical substances that can cause liver cancer are mainly nitroso compounds, such as nitrosamines and nitrosamides. In addition, pesticides, alcohol, safrole, etc. can also induce liver cancer.

(5) Other factors: Overnutrition (large amounts of nutrition) or nutritional deficiency (such as vitamin A and vitamin B deficiency), hemochromatosis, parasitic infection and heredity are also risk factors for liver cancer.

(6) Immune status: Some people believe that the plasma of liver cancer patients contains a blocking factor that can inhibit cellular immunity and protect liver cancer cells from being killed by immune cells. It has been proven that alpha-fetoprotein (AFp) can inhibit the phagocytosis of lymphocytes and macrophages.

(7) Gene mutation: In recent years, some people believe that mutagens and viruses in the environment stimulate the activation of liver cell division response pathways, causing point mutations and gene translocations in cells, which are possible factors of cell proliferation.