A new study from Cedars-Sinai Cancer brings hopeful news about liver cancer in the United States.
Researchers found that the number of new liver cancer cases is starting to go down after years of steady increases.
They also found that deaths from liver cancer are no longer rising and have become more stable.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, was led by Dr. Ju Dong Yang, who is the medical director of the Liver Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai. He said that patients are living longer thanks to better treatments, especially younger patients and those who are diagnosed with more advanced disease.
One of the most encouraging findings is that the difference in survival between Black and white patients has almost disappeared.
For many years, Black patients were less likely to survive liver cancer due to barriers in healthcare access and treatment. But this new research shows that fairer access to care and improved treatment options may now be helping to close that gap.
To carry out the study, the team looked at information from a national cancer database called the SEER program (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results), which is run by the National Cancer Institute.
They reviewed data from the past 20 years on newly diagnosed liver cancer cases, the stage of the disease when it was first discovered, the types of treatments people received, and how long they lived afterward.
The researchers noticed some good trends: fewer people are getting liver cancer, and more people are surviving. This shows that prevention efforts—such as better control of hepatitis infections, reduced alcohol abuse, and managing obesity and diabetes—might be working.
Treatments have also gotten better, with new medicines and procedures giving patients more time and a better quality of life.
However, the study also found a troubling setback. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer cases of liver cancer were found early, and fewer people received treatments that could potentially cure them.
This may be because many people missed routine checkups, cancer screenings, or had trouble getting medical care during the pandemic. The researchers say this shows the importance of keeping up with regular healthcare visits, even during times of crisis.
In summary, this study gives hope for people affected by liver cancer. It shows that new treatments are helping people live longer, and that racial gaps in survival are shrinking. But it also reminds us that we need strong healthcare systems that can keep screening and treatment going, even during pandemics or other disruptions.
With continued progress in prevention, early detection, and treatment access for everyone, the fight against liver cancer is moving in the right direction.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about simple habit that could give you a healthy liver, and common diabetes drug that may reverse liver inflammation.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about simple blood test that could detect your risk of fatty liver disease, and results showing this green diet may strongly lower non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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