To reduce your liver cancer risk, prevent liver disease — and cirrhosis

Most people who have cancer in the liver have cancer that has spread (metastasized) from another location, such as the colon, stomach, or breast. This is different from the most common type of primary liver cancer, called hepatocellular carcinoma, which starts in liver cells called hepatocytes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma occurs most often in people with underlying liver disease. "Having liver disease puts you at risk for cirrhosis — scarring of the liver. It's cirrhosis that predominantly puts you at risk for the development of liver cancer," says Denise Harnois, D.O., a Mayo Clinic transplant hepatologist.

To read the full article and learn more about what you can do to prevent liver disease and cirrhosis, please visit Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Blog