HEPATITIS B FOUNDATION

CAUSE FOR A CURE

3805 Old Easton Road, PA 18902
Doylestown 215-489-4900
Phone: Email: info@hepb.org
www.hepb.org

A dedicated program of the Hepatitis B Foundation

Email: connect@livercancerconnect.org
www.livercancerconnect.org

Liver Cancer Facts

Liver cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the world

Liver cancer is the worlds second leading cause of cancer-related deaths,1 and is estimated to become the third
leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States by 2030.2
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide; in the United States, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is
the leading cause of liver cancer.
Nearly 1 out of every 3 people in the world (approximately 2 billion people) has been infected by HBV, and 1 in 12
live with chronic HBV or HCV infection.3

Liver cancer is increasing in incidence and mortality in the United States

The incidence of liver cancer is rising,4 while the rates of most other cancers are declining or stable.4
The death rate for liver cancer in the United States is increasing,4,5 with the overall 5-year survival rate only 16.6%.4
The average lifespan for someone diagnosed with liver cancer today is 4-6 months.6
In 2014, an estimated 33,000 new cases of liver cancer were diagnosed, with 23,000 deaths.4

Liver cancer is preventable!

The main risk factors for liver cancer are chronic HBV or HCV infections, excessive alcohol use, nonalcoholic fatty
liver disease, and obesity. These risk factors are all modifiable: they can be prevented or controlled.
Eliminating the risk factors for liver cancer offers the greatest public health benefit and the most cost-effective, longterm method of cancer control.1,7
The HBV vaccine, which prevents HBV infection, is the worlds first anti-cancer vaccine because it has been shown to
significantly reduce the incidence of liver cancer.8 HBV is treatable, HCV is curable, and liver cancer caused by fatty
liver disease or excessive alcohol use can be prevented by adopting healthy diets and lifestyles.

Early detection and treatment save lives!

Liver cancer does not have to be a death sentence if detected early, it can be treated or cured with liver surgery or
transplantation.
Increase public awareness about the seriousness of the risk factors and their deadly link to liver cancer.
Conduct screening and regular monitoring of people at risk for liver cancer, including all people infected with HBV or
HCV, for earlier detection.
Develop more effective diagnostic and treatment strategies for liver cancer.
Promote hepatitis testing of all people at risk for HBV or HCV to identify infections.
Vaccinate all babies, children and at-risk adults to protect against HBV infection.
Link all individuals infected with HBV or HCV and other risk factors to care to prevent progression to liver cancer.

Please join our campaign to eliminate liver cancer!

1. IARC, World Health Organization. World Cancer Report 2014. http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2014/pdfs/pr224_E.pdf.
2. Rahib L et al. Cancer Res June 1, 2014; 74: 2913. http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/74/11/2913.
3. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/world_hepatitis_day/question_answer/en/
4. SEER Cancer Statistics Factsheets: Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer. NCI. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/livibd.html.
5. NCI Cancer Trends Progress Report, 2011/2012 Update. http://progressreport.cancer.gov/highlights.asp.
6. de Villa V et al. Oncologist. 2007;12(11):1321-1331.
7. American Cancer Society. Global Cancer Facts and Figures.
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-027766.pdf
8. Chang M-H, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 2009;101(19):1348-1355. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/101/19/1348.
Jan 2015