Early Screening is the Key to Improving Liver Cancer Cure Rates

Liver cancer is characterized by insidious onset, rapid progression, and poor prognosis; most patients are diagnosed at mid to late stages.

Early-stage liver cancer patients undergoing surgery or liver transplantation have a five-year survival rate above 70%, whereas mid-to-late stage patients have only 10%-15%, highlighting the importance of early screening.

Early screening can detect liver cancer before obvious symptoms appear, when tumor size is small and metastasis has not occurred, thus gaining valuable time for timely treatment. Regular liver cancer screening can precisely catch early signs, enabling targeted therapy and increasing chances of cure. Early screening is a proactive investment with relatively low costs.

Early Screening Effectively Reduces Treatment Costs and Suffering

Treatment of mid-to-late stage liver cancer often requires a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy,

with long treatment cycles and high costs; for example, targeted and immunotherapy drugs are expensive,

and mid-to-late stage patients often suffer complications such as liver dysfunction, ascites, and jaundice, causing both physical and psychological distress.

Early Screening Has Important Social Significance in Liver Cancer Prevention and Control

China has a large population with hepatitis B virus infection, which is a major cause of liver cancer. Additionally, hepatitis C infection, chronic alcohol abuse, and consumption of moldy food are also high-risk factors.

Regular early screening of high-risk groups (such as chronic hepatitis B or C patients, cirrhosis patients, those with family history of liver cancer, and chronic alcohol users) enables early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of liver cancer, effectively controlling incidence and mortality.

Promotion of liver cancer early screening also raises public awareness of liver cancer prevention and treatment, enhances self-care awareness, and encourages healthy lifestyles, thereby reducing liver cancer risk from the source.

Advances in Screening Technology Provide Strong Support for Liver Cancer Control

With continuous medical advances, liver cancer early screening methods have become more mature and convenient. Currently, common methods include serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing and abdominal ultrasound examination. AFP is a tumor marker with relatively high specificity and is important for liver cancer diagnosis; abdominal ultrasound can clearly show liver structure and detect space-occupying lesions. It is non-invasive and low-cost. For those with abnormal ultrasound findings or elevated AFP, further CT or MRI examinations can be conducted.

A Call to Emphasize Liver Cancer Early Screening and Protect Life and Health

Liver cancer early screening is a health project that benefits the entire population. Medical institutions should strengthen management of high-risk groups and establish comprehensive screening follow-up mechanisms. The public should enhance awareness of liver cancer screening, actively participate in screening, and high-risk individuals especially should undergo regular check-ups to prevent disease before it occurs.

In summary, liver cancer early screening is the first and crucial line of defense for life and health, carrying significant importance. It not only improves cure rates and patients’ quality of life but also reduces treatment costs and social burden. Let us collectively focus on liver cancer early screening, using scientific methods and proactive actions to protect our liver health and stay free from the threat of liver cancer.