Final answer:
Hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer, can be caused by chronic hepatitis B or C infection, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to toxins, and hereditary conditions like Wilson's disease. Chronic liver damage from cirrhosis is a significant risk factor for developing this cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse caring for a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma should recognize that this disease can be caused by a variety of factors. Common causes include chronic infection with hepatitis B or C viruses, excessive alcohol intake, and exposure to liver-toxic chemicals.
Additionally, hereditary diseases like Wilson's disease, which causes copper retention, can play a role in the development of liver cancer. Cirrhosis, which may result from chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholism, or other liver-damaging events, can also lead to hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatitis, a general term for inflammation of the liver, is often caused by one of the five primary hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, and E), all of which have an affinity for infecting hepatocytes. Chronic liver damage and inflammation due to viral hepatitis, particularly B and C, can significantly increase the risk of developing primary hepatocellular carcinoma.