Liver cancer is a serious health problem in San Antonio and South Texas, particularly among Hispanic residents. UT Health San Antonio researchers have reported that South Texas Latinos have exceptionally high rates of the disease.
The reasons are complex. Hepatitis B and C, heavy alcohol use and cirrhosis can raise the risk of liver cancer. So can advanced fatty liver disease, now often called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes increase the likelihood of that condition, but most people with fatty liver disease will not develop cancer. Researchers are studying how these risks, along with access to diagnosis and care, contribute to the regional disparity…