October is National Liver Cancer Awareness Month

Liver cancer may be less well-known than other cancer types, but it is the fifth most common cancer in the world.  And despite progress in other fields, liver cancer is one of the few cancers whose rate in the United States is continuing to rise.  Liver cancer, whose medical term is hepatocellular carcinoma, is tumor that starts in the liver and can spread to other organs if left untreated.

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Baby Boomers Should Get Tested for Hepatitis C!

According to the CDC, all “Baby Boomers” should get tested for hepatitis C. This is based only on age and for this recommendation Baby Boomers are defined as those born between 1945 and 1965

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a viral infection of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver transplant, and death. It has been found to be very common in this age group, and, as they age, the consequences of the infection can be more severe and be irreversible before there are any symptoms at all!

The CDC also recommends that people who test positive for HCV be counseled about alcohol intake and referred to a liver disease specialist, who is familiar with the treatments available. This is particularly important now for several reasons.

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