Dr. Asare Offei, a consultant hepatobiliary surgeon at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, has highlighted hepatitis B infection as the leading cause of liver cancer in Ghana. (Hepatobiliary refers to anything concerning the liver and the bile system, including the gallbladder and bile ducts.) During an appearance on the Joy Super Morning Show as part of Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Offei noted that approximately 80% of liver cancer cases in the country are due to hepatocellular carcinoma—a form of cancer strongly associated with hepatitis B infection.
“The most common type, which is responsible for most deaths and has become almost synonymous with liver cancer here, is hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC. It accounts for about 80% or more of all primary liver cancers, and it is directly linked to the hepatitis B virus,” he explained.
He noted that hepatitis B is a viral infection transmitted mainly through blood contact, sexual contact, or from mother to child at birth. The virus can trigger chronic inflammation of the liver, which in some cases directly develops into cancer without first progressing to cirrhosis.
Dr. Offei noted that in some instances, hepatitis-related inflammation can cause liver cells to become cancerous without first progressing to cirrhosis. Liver cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Ghana, with hepatitis B rates among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Health professionals caution that many people in Ghana may unknowingly carry the virus, as it often presents no early symptoms. Dr. Offei emphasised the need for regular hepatitis B screening, vaccination, and prompt treatment to help lower the nation’s high rates of liver cancer. Joy FM’s Cancer Awareness Month campaign seeks to raise public awareness about cancer risks and promote early detection and prevention.
Source: Caleb Ahinakwah
