A 21-year-old member asked:
How does hepatitis c lead to liver cancer?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jeffrey Crespinanswered
Gastroenterology 30 years experience
Cirrhosis: Chronic inflammation can lead to cancer. In the case of hepatitis c, patients first develop cirrhosis which is scarring of the liver from chronic inflammation prior to liver cancer.
This chronic scarring combined with chronic inflammation can lead to liver cancer up to 25 percent of the time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Lance Steinanswered
Specializes in Hepatology
HCC Risk with HCV: Hepatitis c (hcv) infection leads to liver inflammation and liver scarring. Advanced liver scarring is also called cirrhosis. Patients with HCV and cirrhosis are at a higher risk for liver cancer and should be screened by their physicians for liver cancer. Patients with successful eradication of their HCV and cirrhosis will need to continue liver cancer screening.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A Verified Doctoranswered
Surgical Oncology 20 years experience
Yes, it can.: Any type of long-standing irritation to the liver can cause cancer. These types of irritation include iron overload, alcohol overuse, and yes, hepatitis exposure. Basically, the body attacks cells with the hepatitis C virus inside. The body heals, and when this happens many times over the years, the new liver cells are disorganized in how they grow, to the point that they form cancer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Cosme Manzarbeitiaanswered
Surgery 41 years experience
Yes: Like any chronic condition affecting the liver, hcv leads to liver cancer over time, usually preceded by cirrhosis histologically. The average time from infection to cancer is about 20 to 30 years.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
A 47-year-old member asked:
When before I have cirrhosis/ liver cancer from hepatitis c?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Camilla Grahamanswered
Internal Medicine - Infectious Disease 29 years experience
Depends: The amount of liver scarring someone has depends on a number of factors like how old they were when infected, how many years they have has hcv, and how much alcohol they drank. About 20% of men who have been infected for 20 years have cirrhosis and this increases to about 40-50% by 40 years. There are blood tests that can give an indication of whether you are likely to have cirrhosis now.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Is hepatitis C infection associated with liver cancer?
3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Lance Steinanswered
Specializes in Hepatology
Yes: But usually only when liver cirrhosis is present.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Does everyone with hepatitis C eventually develop liver cancer?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Lance Steinanswered
Specializes in Hepatology
No: Those with cirrhosis and advanced fibrosis are at an increased risk for liver cancer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
CA
A 38-year-old member asked:
Is there a way to screen people with hepatitis C for liver cancer?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Helleranswered
Gastroenterology 45 years experience
MD, SONO, AFP lab: Liver cancer (ca) in hep c generally occurs if there is cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. Hep b can get ca without cirrhosis.
Check with md for viral load, genotype, other possible hep viruses, other causes chronic liver disease (autoimmune, iron, copper disease).
May need liver biopsy to decide on need for rx (and type).
Sonogram (no xrays), Alpha feto protein (afp, tumor marker).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
How much time before I have cirrhosis/ liver cancer from hepatitis c?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Raymundo Romeroanswered
Medical Oncology 24 years experience
HOPEFULLY NEVER: Roughly 20 yrs for Hep C to lead to cirrhosis. And cirrhosis is just a risk factor for liver cancer, not everyone with cirrhosis develops liver cancer. Most importantly is the fact that there are treatments to help eradicate Hep C and prevent cirrhosis and cancer. Recommendation is to see a Hepatologist - liver specialist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Mar 12, 2020
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