Should you be screened for liver cancer?
Screening tests are powerful cancer prevention tools that can detect pre-cancerous conditions early, sometimes before symptoms arise. However, screening tests don¡¯t exist for all types of cancer, and some are advised only for people who have specific traits that increase their risk.
MD Anderson has developed its own set of evidence-based screening guidelines, which, like those from the and the , recommend that people be screened regularly for certain cancers.
In addition, MD Anderson recommends liver cancer screening for high-risk patients.
¡°There are no national guidelines for liver cancer screening, partly because no clinical trial has been conducted to assess its effectiveness,¡± says Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of MD Anderson¡¯s Lyda Hill Cancer Prevention Center. ¡°But emerging evidence suggests there may be benefits to screening populations at high risk.¡±
MD Anderson considers people to be at high risk for liver cancer if they have hepatitis B or C, or if they¡¯ve been recommended for hepatitis B or C screenings. The viruses attack the liver and can cause liver cancer, cirrhosis (scarring) and liver failure.
For others who don¡¯t meet this highrisk definition, screening benefits may not be as clear. Screening can even have negative consequences, such as false-negative or false-positive test results.
¡°Cancer screening is always about understanding and balancing the benefits and harms, and making sure there¡¯s a favorable outcome for the patient,¡± says Bevers. ¡°Your doctor can advise you about your risk for liver cancer and your need for screening tests.¡±
