Recent advancements in liver cancer treatment have led to the implementation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and precise therapies such as radioembolization and proton therapy. According to data from the Korea National Cancer Information Center, the five-year survival rate for liver cancer patients in South Korea has significantly increased from 20.6% between 2001-2005 to 40.4% for the period of 2019-2023. Despite this progress, liver cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the country, primarily because most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.

At the 10th 'Liver Cancer Day' event held in Seoul, the Korean Liver Cancer Association emphasized the importance of early detection and surveillance testing for liver cancer. Planning committee member Hong Seo-young highlighted during her presentation that the timing of diagnosis is more critical than the treatment method itself, as early discovery can greatly enhance survival chances. The lack of symptoms in the early stages of liver cancer contributes to late diagnoses, which hinder treatment options and increase mortality risk.

Liver cancer typically develops from chronic conditions like hepatitis B and C or cirrhosis, progressing insidiously without noticeable symptoms initially. By the time patients experience signs such as pain, weight loss, or jaundice, the disease is often far advanced, making surgical or localized treatments less viable. Hong stressed that early detection versus late detection can lead to drastically different outcomes in survival rates, drawing attention to the critical need for regular monitoring and awareness campaigns to catch the disease in its early stages before more severe treatments become necessary.