Hidden hepatitis B left untreated results in liver cancer

Death of young news reporter from liver cancer caused by hepatitis B raises public awareness & interest in dangerous disease.

HEALTH

Hidden hepatitis B left untreated results in liver cancer

12/07/2016
Arusa Pisuthipan

Many Thais are mourning the death of Poochanok Rakthai, 30, the TNN24 news reporter who died of liver cancer last week. The cancer was caused by the hepatitis B virus.

The case has brought about a new public awareness of the disease. More people want to be informed about the disease, including how people contract the disease and how it is treated.

LIVER CANCER AT AGE 30?

How could one get liver cancer at such a young age?

If a person gets hepatitis B virus at birth and is chronically infected over a long period of time, it takes over 20 years for the infection to turn into more severe complications such as liver cancer.

The disease can be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby at birth and is not a genetic disease.

All expectant mothers (pregnant mothers) should be screened for the disease.

If they are infected, their babies must be vaccinated as well as given immunoglobulins [antibodies] to shield them against the virus right after they are born (right after delivery).

HEPATITIS B IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has branded hepatitis B as a global problem.

Figures from the WHO reveal an estimated 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus.

Every year, the world sees more than 686,000 deaths due to complications of hepatitis B including cirrhosis and cancer of the liver.

In Thailand, around 3 million Thais are found to have the hepatitis B virus, 90-95% of which develop acute yet curable infections when they are immunised.

The rest, or around 5-10%, fall prey to chronic hepatitis B infection, according to liver specialist Asst Prof Yudhtana Sattawatthamrong.

SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE

While some hepatitis B-infected patients show no signs of disease and are therefore considered silent carriers of the virus.

Many of those infected will first suffer flu-like symptoms for about two weeks before developing yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Cirrhosis of the liver (chronic scarring of the liver with severe reduction in liver function) and liver cancer can develop if the hepatitis B infection is not treated and becomes chronic.

Sexual transmission of hepatitis B is more common among those with multiple sex partners or who have intimate contact with sex workers.

The virus may also be spread through needles and syringes shared by many people such as drug addicts.

In addition, infection can occur through tattooing or through the use of razors and things contaminated with infected blood.

The disease cannot be spread through sharing eating utensils such as spoons or forks with the infected.

COMPLETE HEPATITIS B CURE UNLIKELY

The bad news is that if chronically infected, the chances of getting completely cured is less than 5%.

The only thing to do is to take medication to keep the virus at bay as best as possible.

Regular follow-up visits are paramount for the hepatitis B-infected given its likelihood of causing liver cancer.

MOST LIVER CANCER COMES FROM HEPATITIS

Around 90% of liver cancer cases have hepatitis B and C viruses to blame.

Men are at higher risk of suffering liver cancer than women. Those with a family history of liver cancer are also in the high-risk group.

Cancer of the liver and bile ducts is the third most commonly found cancer among Thai male population after lung and colon cancer. In females, liver cancer comes in fifth place, following breast, cervical, colon and lung cancer.

The cancer is mostly found in people over 50 but if you get the virus at birth, cancer will mostly appear in your 30s.

RISK FACTORS FOR LIVER CANCER

People infected with hepatitis B will have 100 times higher chance of suffering liver cancer than normal people.

Heavy alcohol drinkers will have a fivefold chance of having liver cancer than those who don't drink.

The recurrence rate for liver cancer after treatment is high -- around 50-70%.

VACCINE AGAINST HEPATITIS B

The vaccine against hepatitis B is 95% effective in preventing infection and also prevents the development of chronic disease and liver cancer.

The hepatitis B vaccine is available at most hospitals.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/1033721/a-silent-killer

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/1033930/hidden-hepatitis-b-left-untreated-results-in-liver-cancer