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Liver cancer is rising dramatically across the country, with areas of economic deprivation particularly hard hit, according to new research by Liver Cancer UK.
Over the past decade, the incidence of liver cancer has risen by 45% and the number of people dying from the disease has risen by 40% — faster than all other common types of cancer.
In fact, liver disease has one of the lowest survival rates out of all cancer types, with just 13% of people living for five years or more following a diagnosis.
This is because the symptoms of liver cancer are often silent for a long period of time, so by the time people are diagnosed, the disease is usually too advanced for treatment to be a realistic option.
This is also why liver cancer is known as a “silent killer”, and Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of British Liver Trust is calling for greater surveillance of people who already have liver disease, to ensure that early diagnoses can be made and treatment opportunities are viable.
Double the number of cases of liver cancer in most deprived areas
Liver Cancer UK is also calling for new healthcare initiatives to focus on preventing the rise of liver cancer in areas of economic deprivation, after their own research found there are roughly double the number of liver cancer cases in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived areas.
In total, there are roughly 800 men and 370 women diagnosed each year in most deprived areas, with 6,000 people dying from the disease every year (roughly 16 per day).
The North West of England had the highest rate of liver cancer cases in the country in both men and women. The lowest rates of liver cancer by region were found in the East of England.
The new data reinforces previous research which has found a strong link with poverty and many forms of cancer, with the latest data from 2022 suggesting that the cancer mortality rate decreases consistently from most deprived to least deprived.
Liver disease patients must be regularly screened for cancer
Professor Stephen Ryder, hepatologist and medical advisor to the British Liver Trust is now urging liver disease patients to regularly attend screenings for cancer.
He said: “The symptoms of liver cancer can be hard to spot in its early stages. They can include fatigue, unintended weight loss, swelling or pain in the abdomen and jaundice.
“But the biggest risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is pre-existing liver disease such as cirrhosis so it’s crucial that anyone with liver disease is regularly screened for liver cancer.”