Rates of liver cancer among men are
two to four times as high as the rates among women. Hepatocellular carcinoma
related to infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become the fastest-rising cause
of cancer-related death in the United States, and during the past two decades, the incidence
of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States has tripled while the 5-year
survival rate has remained below 12%2 (Fig. 2). The greatest proportional increase
in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma has been seen among Hispanics and whites
between 45 and 60 years of age.4