Liver cancer is now the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK, warns the British Liver Trust.
Since the early 1970s, liver cancer mortality rates have more than tripled.
“The key drivers for the increase in cases and deaths are alcohol and obesity,” said Pamela Healy, chief executive of the British Liver Trust.
The British Liver Trust has submitted evidence on the rising rates of liver cancer to an inquiry by the parliamentary health and social care committee into future cancer care, which is examining innovations in diagnosis and treatment.
It says the biggest risk factor for developing liver cancer is liver disease, which can be reversible through lifestyle changes including reduced alcohol consumption and weight loss.
It points out alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen which causes at least seven types of cancer.
Figures compiled by Cancer Research show the mortality rates for liver cancer per 100,000 of population in the UK have increased from 6.4 in 2007-09 to 9.3 in 2017-19. »
