Mayo Clinic Minute: Treating liver cancer

Liver cancer rates have more than tripled in the U.S. since 1980 and continue to rise. More than 41,000 people will be diagnosed with primary liver cancer in the U.S. this year, and about 29,000 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Lionel Kankeu Fonkoua, a Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center oncologist, discusses prevention and treatment.

The most common form of primary liver cancer —cancer that starts in the liver—is called hepatocellular carcinoma. This type of cancer often develops in people with chronic liver diseases like hepatitis.

Symptoms may include yellowing of the eyes and skin, stomach pain, and unexpected weight loss. Several promising treatments to manage the disease include targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol consumption, and getting vaccinated against hepatitis B can reduce your risk of liver cancer.
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