About 8,000 people die of liver cancer yearly in Taiwan, and about 70 percent of them are hepatitis B carriers, the Formosa Cancer Foundation said.
World Hepatitis Day, which is July 28, aims to increase the public’s awareness of viral hepatitis, a virus that can cause liver inflammation, severe liver diseases and even cancer, the foundation said in a news release.
About 70 percent of the 8,000 people who die of liver cancer in Taiwan every year have hepatitis B and about 20 percent have hepatitis C, it said, adding that this means every day about 20 people die of cancer caused by the virus.
Photo courtesy of the Formosa Cancer Foundation
In addition to liver cancer, in 2021 a total of 4,065 people died of chronic liver diseases and liver cirrhosis, it said.
Hepatitis B vaccination and antiviral therapy are effective ways of preventing the disease and its progression into more severe liver disease, said the foundation’s chief executive officer Lai Gi-ming (賴基銘), a professor at Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital.
However, as Taiwan’s universal vaccination program for infants began in 1986, there are still an estimated 1.9 million people who are 37 years old or older who might be hepatitis B carriers, he said.
These people are generally not aware of their situation and they are not receiving any treatment, so they are at a higher risk of liver inflammation, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, Lai said.
“Every person who has had hepatitis B or hepatitis C should follow up as early as possible, because the virus can remain in the liver and damage it,” he said.
While hepatitis C can be cured with antiviral medication, there is currently no cure for chronic hepatitis B infection, Lai said, adding that disease progression risk can still be reduced through regular medication.
To address hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection, people should first be aware of their condition by getting an examination to find out if they are infected, especially those who are aged 37 or older, he said.
“The liver is known as a ‘silent organ,’ as early symptoms of liver illness often go unnoticed,” Lai said, adding that getting regular liver cancer screenings can help detect any lesion or cancer at an early stage and allow earlier treatment, which delivers better results overall.
People who are diagnosed with hepatitis B should follow up regularly and take tests such as an alanine transaminase (ALT) blood test, abdominal ultrasound, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test, hepatic fibrosis blood test or hepatitis B viral load test to manage the condition, he said.
People with hepatitis B should consult with their physician about the best treatment and continue to receive proper treatment to avoid liver cancer, Lai said.
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