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October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month

September 29, 2023

What you should know about liver cancer

Primary liver cancer is a cancerous tumour that starts in the liver. Secondary liver cancer is cancer that has started in another part of the body and spread to the liver. It’s more common than primary liver cancer in Australia.

Here, more than 2800 people are diagnosed with primary liver cancer each year and about three times more men than women are affected. The rate of primary liver cancer has almost doubled since 2002.

Causes include hepatitis B and C infections, obesity (and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease or MAFLD), type 2 diabetes, drinking alcohol, and our ageing population, where more than 70% of cases occur in people aged 60 and over.

In 2022:

  • New liver cancer cases diagnosed: 2905
  • Estimated number of deaths from liver cancer: 2495
  • Chance of surviving at least 5 years: 22%.

This video from the Mayo Clinic gives a comprehensive overview of liver cancer – the facts, diagnosis and treatment options.

For more information and resources see our Liver Cancer page

Or call the LiverLine on 1800 703 003.

LiverLine
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LiverWELL acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands where we work - the lands of the Woi-Wurrung Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations. We express our gratitude to them for their continued care and curation of these lands and waters. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

LiverWELL observes and honours the Kulin Nation's intrinsic connection to land, sky and water, and the creator Bunjil. LiverWELL is committed to being led and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders on bridging health outcomes for communities and improving liver health.