New Hepatitis C Medicines Improve Survival After Liver Cancer Surgery

People with hepatitis C are at higher risk of liver cancer. Surgery can remove part of the liver, but cancer often comes back. A new international study looked at how modern hepatitis C medicines, called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), affect survival after liver cancer surgery.

The study included 738 patients from 7 hospitals around the world. Some patients received DAAs before surgery, some received older treatments, and some had no treatment for hepatitis C. Researchers followed patients for over 7 years.

The results showed that people who took DAAs lived longer after surgery. They also had a lower chance of their liver cancer coming back. Patients on DAAs had a much higher rate of clearing the virus (92%) compared with older treatments (71%). Importantly, taking DAAs before surgery did not increase the risk of serious complications in the first 90 days after surgery.

This means DAAs not only control hepatitis C but also improve outcomes for people with liver cancer. For patients facing surgery, these medicines may provide hope for a better recovery and longer life.

If you or someone you know has hepatitis C and liver cancer, it is worth asking your doctor about DAAs. They could make a real difference in both cancer outcomes and overall health.