Liver cancer is the fastest-rising cause of cancer related deaths in the UK. According to Cancer Research UK, around 6,200 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year.
The most common form of primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which makes up 85 per cent of all liver cancers.
Existing evidence suggests that only around 20 per cent of HCCs are currently diagnosed at an early stage (stages 1 or 2).
'risk factor'
The biggest risk factor for HCC is pre-existing liver disease, with liver cirrhosis being present in 80-90 per cent of people with HCC.
Survival and patient outcomes from HCC are significantly improved when the cancer is diagnosed earlier.
On average, patients in regular ultrasound surveillance have their cancers detected earlier and receive more curative intent treatment.
Kent and Medway's liver surveillance programme
Data analysis has shown there is likely to be more than 5,000 patients across Kent and Medway who are coded in primary care records as having cirrhosis, yet are not in a surveillance programme.
The Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance is working in partnership with our local hospital trusts to develop a liver surveillance programme for those patients at high risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC):
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DVH)
- East Kent Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (EKUFT)
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Well NHS Foundation Trust (MTW)
- Medway Foundation Trust (MFT)
The surveillance programme aims to offer regular six-monthly ultrasound surveillance of adults with cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis and conditions including hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
This will increase the chance of detecting HCC early, so that patients can benefit from potentially curative treatment and improved chances of survival.
