Intro: Liver cancer, also known as hepatic cancer, begins in the liver, performs vital
functions such as metabolizing drugs, detoxifying chemicals, and producing specific proteins for blood clotting and immune function. Understanding liver cancer and its statistics is crucial for devising effective public health strategies and raising awareness.
Accurate data allows us to identify trends and target efforts towards needed areas.
Incidence Rates: Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer globally, with
approximately 900,000 new cases diagnosed each year. However, the incident rates vary significantly across regions. In East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, the rates are alarmingly high, largely due to the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections. For example, in China, the incidence rate is about 35 per 100,000 individuals, while in the United States, it is approximately 9 per 100,000.
Mortality Rates:Liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths with more that 700,000 deaths annually. The mortality rates have been rising, particularly in countries experiencing increased incidence rates. For example, in the United States, liver cancer mortality rates have more than tripled since the mid-1980s. Prevalence: Globally, there are approximately 1.3 million people currently living with liver cancer. This number includes both new cases and those diagnosed in previous years who are still undergoing treatment or living with the disease. Approximately 108,247 of those cases are from the United States.
Survival rates:
Stage 1: The cancer is confined to the liver and has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant sites. 33% survival rate for a span of 5 years.
Stage 2: The cancer has grown into nearby blood vessels but has not spread to lymph nodes or distant sites. 17% survival rate for a span of 5 years.
Stage 3: The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. 11% survival rate for a span of 5 years.
Stage 4: The cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues. 2% survival rate for a span of 5 years.
Ethnicity and Geography: In the United States, Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders have the highest incidence rates, followed by Hispanic and African American populations. These differences can be attributed to varying prevalence rates of risk factors such as hepatitis B and C infections, alcohol consumption, and metabolic diseases. Additionally, geographic variations are significant, with higher rates in regions like East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where chronic hepatitis infections are more common.
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