Can hepatitis B lead to liver cancer?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on December 28, 2024
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Hepatitis B can cause chronic infection in the body, which may damage liver cells and potentially lead to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Therefore, in cases of hepatitis B virus infection, it is necessary to regularly check liver function and hepatitis B virus DNA. If abnormal transaminase levels are found, timely liver-protective and enzyme-lowering treatments should be administered. If the hepatitis B virus DNA reaches a certain level, antiviral treatment should be initiated to potentially slow the progression of hepatitis B developing into liver cirrhosis or even liver cancer. Additionally, carriers of the hepatitis B virus or patients with hepatitis B should take care to rest adequately, avoid excessive fatigue and staying up late, abstain from alcohol, and maintain a light, digestible diet.

Other Voices

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
1min 18sec home-news-image

Do early-stage liver cancer patients experience fatigue?

Patients with early-stage liver cancer generally do not exhibit symptoms of fatigue, which are more commonly seen in patients with mid to late-stage liver cancer. The clinical symptoms of early-stage liver cancer are generally not typical, with a minority of patients experiencing reduced appetite and discomfort or mild pain in the liver area. Furthermore, early-stage liver cancer is often discovered during physical examinations or incidentally. Fatigue in liver cancer patients is mostly due to hypoalbuminemia, moderate to severe anemia, or toxic side effects caused by certain anticancer treatments. Hypoalbuminemia occurs because the growth of liver cancer consumes a large amount of protein, and liver dysfunction leads to insufficient synthesis of both protein and glycogen, resulting in malnutrition in patients. After experiencing weight loss, patients often show signs of fatigue. The pathological changes in liver cancer can lead to moderate to severe anemia, which, in turn, significantly contributes to fatigue. Additionally, some medications used in treating liver cancer can cause fatigue due to their toxic side effects.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
1min 6sec home-news-image

Does early-stage liver cancer cause yellowing of the skin?

In the early stages of liver cancer, generally, the skin does not turn yellow. This is because jaundice, which causes the skin to yellow, occurs in liver cancer patients due to the presence of jaundice. The causes of jaundice in liver cancer patients mainly consider two aspects. The first reason is due to the lesions of liver cancer, which damage liver cells and cause liver function damage, thereby causing jaundice. Another reason is due to significant liver lesions that compress the bile ducts and intrahepatic bile ducts, causing obstructive jaundice. Therefore, the appearance of jaundice is often a clinical manifestation of late-stage liver cancer. In the early stages of liver cancer, the lesions are generally small, causing only mild damage to liver function. Moreover, in most cases, it does not cause compression or obstruction in the biliary system, thus not leading to obstructive jaundice. Therefore, yellowing of the skin does not occur in the early stages.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Is bleeding when brushing teeth an early sign of liver cancer?

When a patient has liver cancer, one symptom can be gingival bleeding. Because when a patient has liver cancer, some coagulation factors in the blood are affected, and the patient may frequently experience repeated dental bleeding. Therefore, it is suggested that patients should undergo early diagnostic tests and adopt specific treatment plans. However, repeated gingival bleeding in a patient does not necessarily indicate early-stage liver cancer, as some hematological diseases can also lead to repeated gingival bleeding, such as common thrombocytopenia and some patients with gingivitis. If long-term oral hygiene is neglected, the gingival tissue stays in a state of chronic inflammation, and acute inflammation can lead to bleeding while brushing teeth.

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Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
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Does primary liver cancer have a genetic basis?

Primary liver cancer is generally not certain to be hereditary, but it may be somewhat related to genetics. For example, there are often phenomena of family and regional clustering of liver cancer. Current research believes that primary liver cancer, commonly referred to as liver cancer, is the result of a combination of factors, closely associated with hepatitis virus infection, aflatoxin infection, and contaminated drinking water. Common scenarios include hepatitis B virus infection leading to hepatitis B followed by cirrhosis, which can further develop into primary liver cancer. Also, long-term alcohol abuse leading to alcoholic cirrhosis can also result in liver cancer.

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Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
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Can hepatitis B develop into liver cancer?

Hepatitis B, also known as Type B Hepatitis, can develop into liver cancer. In China, most liver cancer patients are caused by Hepatitis B. To prevent Hepatitis B from developing into liver cancer, the key is to seek early, timely, and standardized treatment. For specific treatment guidelines and treatment plans, consult a qualified hospital.