Subscribe to Minority Women's Health email updates.
Cancer is a disease in which cells become abnormal and form more cells in an uncontrolled way. With liver cancer, the cancer begins in the tissues that make up the liver. Asian-Americans have the highest rates of liver cancer in the United States. This is because Asian-Americans have high rates of hepatitis B, which is the main cause of liver cancer worldwide. Other risk factors for liver cancer include:
Liver cancer often has no early sign or symptoms. Certain people at very high risk of getting liver cancer may be helped by screening tests that look for liver cancer before symptoms occur. If you have chronic hepatitis B, especially if you got it as a baby or child, talk to your doctor about your risk and whether you might benefit from liver cancer screening.
If you don't know if you have hepatitis B, get tested. If you do not have it, ask your doctor if you need the hepatitis B vaccine. This vaccine can stop 100 percent of liver cancers caused by hepatitis B.
Content last updated May 18, 2010.
Resources last updated May 18, 2010.