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.
Also on YouTube.
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.
Open this video's own page →Choose how you want to read this
The whole article, with every detail and caution.
This page is for anyone who has hepatitis B or C, or wonders whether they should be tested. It explains how these infections can lead to liver cancer and what you can do to lower the risk.
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. Not everyone with chronic hepatitis develops liver cancer. But because these infections can lead to liver cancer, 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. In turn, it helps prevent liver cancer linked to this virus. A hepatitis B vaccine is, in effect, a cancer-prevention tool.
The vaccine cannot treat an infection you already have. Chronic hepatitis B can be treated with antiviral medicines that slow liver damage. CDC says these medicines help manage chronic hepatitis B but do not cure it.
Hepatitis C: testing and treatment
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C yet. But there is very good news on treatment.
CDC says an 8 to 12 week course of pills cures more than 95% of people with hepatitis C.
Testing is the key first step. CDC recommends testing at least once for all adults 18 and older, and during each pregnancy. CDC says testing is the only way to find out, because many people have no symptoms.
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.
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
- Asking your care team about alcohol, which can further harm the liver
If you have chronic hepatitis, your healthcare team may recommend regular liver checks. These checks may help catch problems early.
Your provider is the best person to help you decide on testing, vaccination, and any follow-up care that fits your situation.
A reason for hope
Liver cancer linked to hepatitis is a serious concern. 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 be cured in more than 95% of people who take the medicine, CDC says.
- Testing can find these infections early, before symptoms appear.
- Regular follow-up may catch liver problems early.
Together, these tools can help prevent liver cancers caused by hepatitis. 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.
Sources
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 medicine can cure it in most people.
Should I get tested for hepatitis?
Many people should. CDC recommends hepatitis C testing at least once for all adults 18 and older, and during each pregnancy. These infections often cause no symptoms, so testing is the only way to know. Ask your provider.
Can hepatitis C be cured?
Yes. CDC says an 8 to 12 week course of pills cures more than 95% of people with hepatitis C. Ask your care team what this means for you.
If I have hepatitis, will I get liver cancer?
Not necessarily. Chronic hepatitis B or C can lead to liver cancer, but it does not happen to everyone. Your provider can guide your testing and care.
Questions to ask your doctor
Being prepared helps you get the most out of your appointments. Save or print these questions.
Tap a question to save it to your list (kept on this device).
Talk with a trained specialist or navigator
Cancer Explained provides educational guidance, but does not replace trained specialists, social workers, or your medical team.
Talk to a trained cancer information specialist
Free, confidential assistance from NCI Cancer Information Service via phone, chat, or email.
Contact your oncology team
Locate after-hours contact numbers, portal messages, or urgent triage phone lines.
Find a patient navigator
Get one-on-one help with appointments, logistics, translation, and care coordination.
Find a genetic counselor
Discuss inherited mutation risk, family history, and genetic testing options.
Find an oncology social worker
Access emotional counseling, family support groups, and mental health resources.
Find a financial navigator
Locate copay assistance foundations, grant programs, and lodging/travel support.
Find a clinical-trial specialist
Search matching studies and speak with NCI trial information specialists.
Get urgent help
Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during chemo, severe pain, or trouble breathing: call your cancer care team right away, day or night. Call 911 for an emergency.
Plain-language explanation of the published sources cited on this page. AI-assisted, source-checked, not clinician-reviewed.
Last updated: 2026-10-16Next planned review: 2027-07-04
Review details and limits
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, and this 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 then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
General education — varies by person. Answers genuinely differ between people. This page explains what commonly varies and points you to your care team 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.
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Knowledge check
0 of 4 answered
This self-assessment checks understanding of educational content only. It is not medical advice.
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, and this 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 then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. 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.
Read more about our editorial process, our use of AI, and our corrections policy.
Spotted a problem? Report an error — a factual mistake, broken or outdated source, confusing wording, or anything that seems unsafe. Please do not include names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, addresses, or other identifying medical information in your report.
After using this page, do you understand what to do next?
Anonymous — we only record the answer, never who gave it.