The short answer
Long-term infection with hepatitis B or hepatitis C can lead to liver cancer. A safe vaccine prevents hepatitis B, and treatments can cure hepatitis C. Testing is important because these infections often cause no symptoms.
Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections can lead to liver cancer.
These viruses spread mainly through blood, and hepatitis B also through sexual contact.
A safe, effective vaccine prevents hepatitis B infection.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but treatments can cure the infection.
Watch: The other anti-cancer vaccine
45 sec · Captioned · The hepatitis B vaccine protects against a leading cause of liver cancer.
Educational only — this video explains general report language and is not medical advice. Only your care team can say what a result means for you.
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The full explanation.
The simple version
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Two viruses, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, can infect the liver for years. This is called chronic infection.
Over time, chronic hepatitis B or C can damage the liver and, in some people, lead to liver cancer.
The hopeful news: a vaccine prevents hepatitis B, and medicines can cure hepatitis C. Testing and care can greatly lower the risk.
How hepatitis leads to liver cancer
When hepatitis B or C infects the liver, it can cause ongoing inflammation. The infection may last for many years, often without any symptoms.
Over time, this long-term inflammation can:
- Damage liver cells
- Cause scarring, called cirrhosis
- In some people, lead to liver cancer
This process is slow and does not happen to everyone. Many people with chronic hepatitis never develop liver cancer. But because these infections are a leading cause of liver cancer worldwide, they are important to catch and treat.
How the viruses spread
Hepatitis B and C spread mainly through blood.
Common ways they spread include:
- Sharing needles or other drug equipment
- Blood transfusions in settings without proper screening
- Passing from a parent to a baby at birth
Hepatitis B can also spread through sexual contact. Knowing how these viruses spread can help you lower your risk and protect others.
Hepatitis B: prevention through a vaccine
There is a safe and effective vaccine for hepatitis B. It has been widely used for decades.
Because of this vaccine:
- Most infants in the United States and many other countries are now routinely vaccinated at birth.
- Adults who were not vaccinated and are at higher risk are advised to get the vaccine.
Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to prevent hepatitis B, and in turn, to help prevent liver cancer linked to this virus. A hepatitis B vaccine is, in effect, a cancer-prevention tool.
Hepatitis C: testing and treatment
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C yet. But there is very good news on treatment.
Newer medicines can cure most people with hepatitis C. Curing the infection lowers the risk of liver damage and liver cancer over time.
Testing is the key first step. Health experts recommend hepatitis C testing for all adults and for people at higher risk. Because the infection often causes no symptoms for years, testing is the only reliable way to know.
What you can do
You have real ways to protect your liver and lower your risk.
Helpful steps include:
- Getting the hepatitis B vaccine if it is recommended for you
- Asking your provider about hepatitis B and C testing
- Following treatment if you are diagnosed
- Not sharing needles and practicing safer sex
- Limiting or avoiding alcohol, which can further harm the liver
If you have chronic hepatitis, your healthcare team may recommend regular liver checks. These checks can catch problems early, when they are easier to treat.
Your provider is the best person to help you decide on testing, vaccination, and any follow-up care that fits your situation.
Why testing matters so much
The hardest part about hepatitis B and C is that they are often silent. Many people carry these viruses for years without feeling sick.
During those quiet years, the virus can slowly damage the liver. By the time symptoms appear, more harm may already be done. This is why testing is so valuable.
A simple test can reveal an infection long before it causes problems you can feel. Finding it early opens the door to treatment, monitoring, and steps that lower the risk of liver cancer. You cannot act on an infection you do not know you have.
A reason for hope
Liver cancer linked to hepatitis is a serious concern worldwide. But the tools to fight it are strong and getting stronger.
Consider the progress:
- The hepatitis B vaccine prevents infection in the first place.
- Hepatitis C can now be cured in most people who are treated.
- Testing can find these infections early, before symptoms appear.
- Regular follow-up can catch liver problems while they are easier to treat.
Together, these tools mean that many liver cancers caused by hepatitis can be prevented. Prevention starts with a conversation.
Talk with your healthcare team about whether you should be tested or vaccinated. If you already have chronic hepatitis, ask about treatment and how often you should have your liver checked. These steps put you in a strong position to protect your health.
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Common questions
How do hepatitis B and C cause liver cancer?
Long-term infection with these viruses causes ongoing inflammation and damage to the liver. Over many years, this can lead to scarring and, in some people, liver cancer.
How do these viruses spread?
Both spread through blood, such as by sharing needles or through transfusions in places without proper screening. They can also pass from a parent to a baby at birth. Hepatitis B can also spread through sexual contact.
Is there a vaccine?
Yes, there is a safe and effective vaccine for hepatitis B. Most infants now receive it routinely. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C yet, but it can be cured with medicine.
Should I get tested for hepatitis?
Many people should. Health experts recommend hepatitis C testing for all adults and for people at higher risk. These infections often cause no symptoms, so testing is the only way to know. Ask your provider.
Can hepatitis C be cured?
Yes. Newer medicines can cure most people with hepatitis C. Curing the infection lowers the risk of liver damage and liver cancer over time.
If I have hepatitis, will I get liver cancer?
No. Many people with chronic hepatitis never develop liver cancer. Treatment, follow-up, and avoiding alcohol can lower the risk. Your provider can guide your care.
Questions to ask your doctor
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Last updated: 2026-07-04Next planned review: 2027-07-04
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How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes. We do not employ clinicians and do not intend to — our work is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and checked line by line against the sources listed on it. That confirms the sources support what the page says. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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