In relationships, the silent treatment often signals something’s wrong.

In health, silence can be far more serious, especially when it comes to your liver.

Liver cancer and viral hepatitis (especially hepatitis B and C) often cause little to no symptoms in their early stages, meaning people may not know anything is wrong until the disease is advanced. Yet that silence doesn’t mean everything’s OK, it’s a call to pay attention and act early.

A “Silent Epidemic” in the Philippines and Worldwide

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), liver cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Data from GLOBOCAN (International Agency for Research on Cancer) shows that liver cancer ranks as the third leading cause of cancer death globally, largely because it is often detected late.

In the Philippines, the situation is just as concerning.

The Department of Health (DOH) reports that liver cancer is consistently among the top causes of cancer deaths in the country. Many of these cases are linked to chronic viral hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. These statistics highlight the “silent” nature of these conditions — many people live with them unaware until serious damage has occurred.

How Viral Hepatitis Leads to Liver Cancer

Hepatitis B and C are viral infections that attack the liver and can become chronic (long-term). Chronic infection damages liver tissue over years, leading to inflammation and scarring (cirrhosis), a key risk factor for liver cancer. More than 80% of liver cancer cases worldwide are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, and most of these are linked to viral hepatitis.

Don’t Normalize the Silence

Much of the burden of liver cancer related to viral hepatitis can be prevented or mitigated with the right strategies:

Vaccination: Hepatitis B infection, a major cause of liver cancer can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine, ideally given at birth and completed in infancy.

Effective treatment: Modern antiviral therapies can suppress chronic hepatitis B and cure hepatitis C, reducing progression to cirrhosis and cancer.

Healthy lifestyle: Avoiding excessive alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and good nutrition also lower liver cancer risk factors.

In relationships, ignoring the silent treatment only makes things worse. The same is true for liver health. Knowing your hepatitis status, getting screened, and talking to a healthcare professional, even when you feel fine, are acts of prevention, not panic.

At Makati Life Medical Center, we believe in empowering patients through education, early detection, and compassionate care. Because your health deserves attention, even when it’s quiet.

‍