· Legendary musician David Bowie, died Sunday

o After (secret) 18-month battle with liver cancer

o World pays tribute to one of the most inventive talents in history

· Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers out there

· Liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer kills over 600,000 people globally each year

o One of the most common forms of cancer around the world

o Uncommon in the U.S. (according to the Mayo Clinic)

o Rates in America are rising

o In the US alone, 35,660 new cases are found every year

o Nearly 25,000 Americans are expected to die from liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer this year.

· Most liver cancer that occurs in the U.S. begins elsewhere

o then spreads to the liver

· Closely related cancer is intrahepatic bile duct cancer

o Occurs in the duct that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine

· Liver cancer is more common in men

· 95% of people diagnosed are 45 years or older

· Alcoholism is a root cause

o Researchers say that if a person consumes 3 alcoholic drinks per day, they will most likely develop liver cancer.

Risk factors for liver cancer:

· Gender

o Men are more likely to get hepatocellular carcinoma than women.

· Weight

o Obesity can increase the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.

· Race

o In the U.S., liver cancer is most common in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

· Anabolic steroid use

o Male hormones abused by athletes to increase muscle can slightly increase liver cancer risk with long-term use.

· History of diabetes

o Studies have suggested a link between diabetes and liver cancer

o Likely due to the link between diabetes and fatty liver disease

· Inherited metabolic diseases

o Diseases that disrupt the normal metabolism of the body have been shown to increase your risk of liver cancer.

· Rare diseases

o Studies have found a link between liver cancer and some rare diseases like alpha -1-antitrypsin deficiency, tyrosinemia, and Wilson's disease.

Other cancer factors:

· Smoking

· Poor nutrition

· Heavy alcohol use

· Obesity

· Low activity levels

· Exposure to pollutants

Cancer