Specialist Recommends Vaccination, Lifestyle Modifications

A cancer expert at ThedaCare is encouraging people to take steps to help reduce their risk for liver cancer.

“Lifestyle factors are fueling an increase in liver cancer,” said Dr. Amir Bista, an Oncologist and Hematologist at ThedaCare Cancer Care. “The good news is that people can take steps to help protect themselves and reduce their odds of developing the disease, for example, by modifying lifestyle habits and getting vaccinated against hepatitis B.”

Dr. Amir Bista

Liver cancer is a disease that begins in the cells of the liver, a football-sized organ that sits in the upper right portion of the abdomen. According to an August 2025 medical journal The Lancet, the number of liver cancer cases in the United States is on course to rise from 870,000 in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050. That trajectory could change if people take steps to prevent the disease.

The increase in cases is linked to higher rates of alcohol usage, as well as obesity and obesity-related disease, including higher rates of diabetes and high cholesterol, the study found. The rise in cases also is attributable to increasing rates of hepatitis B and C, viral infections that primarily affect the liver.

Liver Cancer Causes

Chronic viral infections, such as hepatitis B and C viruses, are the leading cause of liver cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Hepatitis B infections can be prevented through a vaccine, which helps provide long-term protection.

“Many people are vaccinated against hepatitis B as babies. If you weren’t, you can be vaccinated as an adult,” Dr. Bista said. “It’s one way you can help protect yourself from the virus and lower your chances of developing liver cancer.”

Hepatitis C also causes liver cancer but there is not a vaccine to prevent the disease. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood and through sexual contact, though the latter is less common. To help prevent hepatitis C, people should abstain from sharing needles and use condoms during sex.

It’s also important to test for hepatitis C when it’s suspected and to treat the virus promptly. Medications that treat hepatitis C may eliminate the virus in many people and potentially lower their risk of developing liver cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Other leading liver cancer causes include:

• Cirrhosis, a condition that creates scar tissue in the liver
• Diabetes
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition affects up to 25% of American adults
• Excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to irreversible liver damage

 Liver Cancer Symptoms

Most people don’t have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary liver cancer. When symptoms appear, they may include:

• Losing weight without trying or loss of appetite
• Upper abdominal pain
• General weakness and fatigue
• Swelling of the abdomen
• Yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes
• White, chalky stools

Lab tests may help detect early signs of liver trouble. People with hepatitis, cirrhosis, heavy alcohol use or MASLD may be among those monitored for liver cancer.

“Talk to your doctor right away if you experience symptoms that concern you,” Dr. Bista said. “Your doctor or health care provider may also monitor you if you have conditions or risk factors that increase your odds of developing liver cancer.”

Reducing Liver Cancer Risk

While the number of liver cancer cases is expected to increase, Dr. Bista said people can take several steps to help lower their odds of developing the disease.

Lifestyle modifications, including consuming less alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight, may protect people from developing liver cancer, he said.

“One way to decrease your chances of developing cirrhosis – and to lower your risk of developing liver cancer and other cancers – is to drink alcohol in moderation, if at all,” Dr. Bista said. “Abstaining from alcohol consumption is best.”

For those who choose to drink, men should have no more than two drinks per day and women no more than one drink per day, according to the ACS.

Losing weight also may improve liver health and reduce the chance of developing liver cancer, Dr. Bista said. The ThedaCare Weight Wellness program offers a range of solutions that may help people lose weight and keep it off.

“The power to reduce your risk of developing cancer oftentimes lies in your hands,” Dr. Bista said. “We encourage everyone to make positive choices for their overall health and wellness.”

People with questions or concerns about their liver health are encouraged to schedule a visit with a primary care provider.

About ThedaCare

For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in northeast and central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including nine hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. ThedaCare is part of Froedtert ThedaCare, Wisconsin’s most comprehensive health care system.