Guest Author: Li Li, MD, PhD
Earlier this week the National Cancer Institute released The Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer (1975-2012). While this report shows a continuing trend of decline of mortality for most cancers for both men and women, thanks largely to progress in prevention and early detection, it also highlights a dismal picture for liver cancer, showing a steady annual increase of incidence and mortality and substantial racial and ethnic disparities. This calls for concerted and targeted efforts to reverse this trend and reduce the disparities by: 1) increasing uptake of hepatitis screening and vaccination and early treatment; 2) maintaining healthy body weight; and 3) reducing excessive alcohol use.
Li Li, MD, PhD is Associate Director for Prevention Research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.