Hong Kong Woman Beats Family's Liver Cancer Legacy

When Ms. Lam's mother died of liver cancer, she knew she might be next. Her grandmother had died the same way, and Lam carried the hepatitis B virus that put her at risk.

But unlike her mother, who had no symptoms until it was too late for surgery, Lam did something different. She got regular check-ups starting in her twenties to monitor the virus.

The pandemic interrupted her routine screenings. When she finally returned to the doctor in 2024, tests revealed concerning news: her viral load had surged and a liver tumor had formed.

The difference this time? Early detection changed everything. Doctors successfully removed the tumor, and Lam was back on her feet within days of surgery.

Now in her fifties, she takes daily medication and has completely transformed her lifestyle. Her blood readings remain stable as she manages what she calls "a long battle."

The Ripple Effect

Lam's story comes as Hong Kong health authorities mark World Hepatitis Day with renewed calls for early screening. About one in 20 people in Hong Kong carries hepatitis B, roughly 5.6 percent of the population.

The bigger concern? Nearly 40 percent of the estimated 410,000 hepatitis B patients in the city don't even know they have it. Without awareness, they can't take the preventive steps that saved Lam's life.

Regular screening allows doctors to monitor viral loads and catch tumors when they're still small and operable. What once seemed like an inevitable family curse became a manageable condition thanks to modern medicine and proactive care.

Lam's mother never had that chance because she had no symptoms to warn her. By the time doctors found her cancer, surgery wasn't an option.

"Fortunately, what happened to my mother did not happen to me," Lam said, crediting her early detection and treatment for breaking the cycle that claimed two generations before her.