Hepatitis B and C could cause ‘significantly higher cancer risk’ than smoking daily pack of cigarettes
People living with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) could be just as likely or more likely to develop cancer than someone smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, new research suggests. According to the Center for Disease Analysis (CDA) Foundation, people infected with hepatitis B and C viruses “have a similar or significantly higher risk of developing cancer than someone who actively smokes one pack of cigarettes per day”, and therefore HBC and HBC should be “considered as cancer causing infections and international guidelines should be reconsidered accordingly”. Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver, according to the NHS. Hepatitis B is spread in the blood of an infected person – it can be spread from infected women to their babies, or through unprotected sex and injecting drugs – and hepatitis C is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. The NHS says HCV is most commonly spread in the UK through sharing needles used to inject drugs. The foundation found that HBV and HCV viruses are highly oncogenic. Oncogenes are mutated genes which can lead to cancers in multiple organs and sites. Homie Razavi, managing director at CDA Foundation said: “Hepatitis B and C infections are silent epidemics. These viral infections are cancer causing but since infected individuals don’t show any symptoms until it is too late, most infections go unnoticed. “It is important for all of us to recognise the high risk of cancer associated with hepatitis B and C infections and get patients linked to care. Treatment can reduce the risk of cancer by 85% or more.” As part of a call on World Hepatitis Day 2023 (July 28), the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) has launched a campaign called ‘We’re not waiting’ with its global network of 323 members in over 100 countries, in order speed up the fight against the disease, which claims a life every 30 seconds. In a new survey, the WHA found that 42% of people around the world are unaware that viral hepatitis is one of the leading causes of liver cancer. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of those surveyed said knowing that hepatitis causes liver cancer means they are more likely to get tested, whilst 82% would get vaccinated. In total, over 350 million people have been diagnosed with either hepatitis B or C around the world, which results in more than 1.1 million deaths every year. And by 2024, deaths caused by this disease could surpass mortality from malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis combined, according to the WHA. “Every year, more than a million lives are lost to hepatitis,” said Danjuma Adda, president of the WHA. “The theme of World Hepatitis Day 2023 is ‘We’re not waiting’. It’s a call to accelerate elimination efforts of viral hepatitis now and the urgent need for testing and treatment for the real people who need it. “Individuals and communities around the world are making change happen in their own lives and in [the] world around them. We celebrate them, while demanding more action. We’re not waiting for change – we’re fighting to make it happen.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-07-28 14:56
IAG Second Quarter Profit Surges on Demand for Leisure Travel
British Airways parent IAG SA reported better than expected profit in the second quarter on a surging demand
2023-07-28 14:49
China’s Domestic Tourism to Hit 90% of Pre-Covid Levels in 2023
China’s domestic tourism market is expected to rebound to 90% of pre-pandemic levels this year thanks to surging
2023-07-28 14:46
Young Chinese opt out of the rat race and pressures at home to pursue global nomad lifestyle
A growing number of young Chinese are moving overseas to escape their homeland's ultra-competitive work culture, limited opportunities and family pressures
2023-07-28 13:59
Air France-KLM Beats Estimates; Sees Demand Holding Up This Year
Air France-KLM reported second-quarter earnings that beat expectations amid strong demand for air travel that the airline group
2023-07-28 13:58
South Africa's Power Blackouts Are Crippling Its 300-Year Old Wine Industry
In a picturesque valley two hours’ drive southeast of Cape Town, Berene Sauls is running way behind schedule.
2023-07-28 13:26
Obama's first college is latest to end legacy admissions
A California college where President Barack Obama started his undergraduate studies will no longer give special treatment to the children of alumni
2023-07-28 13:21
Schools lost track of homeless kids during the pandemic. Many face a steep path to recovery
Homeless kids often fell through the cracks during the tumult of the pandemic, when many schools struggled to keep track of families with unstable housing
2023-07-28 12:23
What to stream this weekend: Post Malone, 'Beanie Bubble,' 'This Fool,' Rolling Stones and 'Heels'
This week’s new entertainment releases include a new album from Post Malone, a movie starring Zach Galifianakis about the creation of the cute collectable Beanie Babies and a video game for the whole family with Disney Illusion Island
2023-07-28 12:15
Mattel Is Considering Barbie Sequel as It Plans More Hollywood Franchises
Mattel Inc., the manufacturer of the iconic Barbie doll, is seeing opportunities for a sequel of the doll’s
2023-07-28 11:52
As cyclists ride across Iowa, they are seeing craft breweries driving small-town tourism
There are hundreds of breweries represented on the jerseys of the thousands of cyclists on RAGBRAI, the annual bike ride across Iowa
2023-07-28 06:56
Company Behind Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Files for Bankruptcy
Lighthouse Immersive Inc., the company behind an interactive Vincent van Gogh exhibition displayed across the US, has filed
2023-07-28 04:47