Every year, in Belgium, more than 1,100 people learn that they have liver cancer. Although it is still rare, the number of cases has been steadily increasing in recent years. But what is this cancer due to? The first cause that comes to mind is alcohol. In an interview with HLN, a Flemish singer suffering from the disease asks: “I don’t drink beer. I think I’ve had 20 pints at most in my entire life. In the 1970s and 1980s, I didn’t even drink alcohol. The only thing I drank in large quantities was Coca-Cola Zero.“, says Walter Grootaers.
Alcohol, a poison for the liver
Questioned by the Flemish media, gastrointestinal doctor Xavier Verhelst first explains how such cancer develops: “In 90% of cases, a liver tumor is caused by liver cirrhosis, which we also call ‘liver scarring’. By making the liver constantly diseased, scar tissue forms and normal liver cells disappear. In worst case scenarios, this can lead to a tumor“. This phenomenon can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption. “By drinking beers for years, you are poisoning your liver over and over again, causing scar tissue and eventually tumors to appear“.
Not the only cause
However, other causes can cause liver cancer. “There is another cause of cirrhosis, which is increasing and almost taking over“, explains the doctor. It is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. And this time, it is not just because of alcohol: a diet that is too fatty, a sedentary lifestyle or even a lack of physical activity.
Tumors can also develop in people with chronic inflammation due to hepatitis B or C. In women, taking the pill can also cause liver cancer. Regarding zero sodas, there is no study that confirms this.
liver cancer
