Hepatitis and Cancer

Viral hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The term also refers to a group of viral infections that damage the liver. They are hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis A and E can make you sick for a period of a few weeks to a few months. Most people recover with no lasting liver damage. Hepatitis D occurs only in people with a hepatitis B infection.

If you are infected with hepatitis B or C, and your body does not clear the virus, it can cause long-term, or chronic illness. This can lead to liver damage and liver cancer. Hepatitis C also can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections have few or no symptoms.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is spread through infected blood, semen and other body fluids. The best way to protect yourself against hepatitis B is to get vaccinated. Some people also should be screened.

Who should be vaccinated against hepatitis B?

MD Anderson, The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all infants be vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth, and complete the vaccination series within six to 18 months. Anyone who was not vaccinated at birth should get vaccinated.

Who should be screened for hepatitis B?

People who fall into the following groups should be tested for hepatitis B:

• Intravenous drug users who share needles, even one time or in the remote past
• Health care or public safety workers who may have contact with human blood or body fluids
• Those who have unprotected sex with an infected partner
• Those who have household contact with someone who is infected, if you share personal items such as toothbrushes or razors
• People with end-stage renal disease
• Children of those who were born in countries or regions where hepatitis B infection is common
• All pregnant women should be tested for the virus

Hepatitis B is not curable but is treatable with antiviral drugs. Patients with chronic infection also are monitored for liver damage.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is spread through infected blood. There is no vaccine against hepatitis C, but some people should be screened.

Who should be screened for hepatitis C?

All adults ages 18-79 should be screened for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. People in the following groups are at increased risk for infection:

• Baby boomers – people born between 1945 and 1965
• People who received blood transfusions or organ transplants before 1992
• Dialysis patients
• Health care or public safety workers who may have contact with human blood or body fluids
• Intravenous drug users who share needles, even one time or in the remote past
• Those who have unprotected sex with an infected partner
• Persons with HIV infection
• Those who have household contact with someone who is infected, if you share personal items such as toothbrushes or razors
• People with undetected liver problems

The treatment success rate for hepatitis C is about 90%. There are several oral antiviral drugs available to treat the disease, including new treatments that appear to be more effective and have fewer side effects than previous options.

Protect yourself against hepatitis

• Get vaccinated (hepatitis A and B only)
• Never share syringes, needles or other drug paraphernalia
• Do not share items that might have blood or other body fluids on them, such as toothbrushes or razors
• Cover open wounds
• If you get a tattoo, make sure the tools are sterile
• Practice safe sex and use a condom