“Liver Cancer and Viral Hepatitis Awareness Prevention Month”, a month-long consciousness among the Filipinos declared through Republic Act No. 10526.

This month-long awareness prevention month aims to ensure the promotion of good health and healthy lifestyle that could lead every Filipinos to the prevention of liver cancer and viral hepatitis.

Liver cancer is one of the important public health problems in the Philippines as it is the fourth leading cause of cancer in the Philippines and the second leading cause of cancer deaths (Global Cancer Observatory, 2021).

The most common risk factor for this cancer is a long-term infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C virus (HCV). These infections can lead to inflammation and scarring of liver. The late-stage of scarring, termed as cirrhosis, can then lead to the development of liver cancer. The tricky part in cancers is that it can go for years undetected and is usually discovered when at a terminal stage and treatments are mostly ineffective. Because of this very reason, prevention of liver cancer is an important aspect of care for all.

One of the ways to prevent the development of liver cancer is following a healthy lifestyle guideline such as the 10 kumainments. Some of these healthy lifestyle guidelines are being physically active, making a healthy food choice, avoiding alcoholic beverages and maintaining a normal body weight. #MPRayco