For liver cancer to occur cirrhosis usually must be present first. If you have had a liver biopsy and only have mild disease (after being infected for quite awhile) then you are less likely to be at risk for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC). People who have been infected with Hepatitis C for 10 years or more and have not had a liver biopsy or who have cirrhosis should be screened for HCC 6 monthly. This screening consists of a blood test for alpha-feto-protein. This is a 'tumor-marker' and indicates if cancer is present. The other screen is a liver ultrasound, which can show any cancer in the liver. It should also be done 6 monthly. In general, HCC has a very poor outcome. Current hope is that if the cancer is picked up very early then excision (cutting it out) or liver transplant may offer some hope.