This Liver Cancer Awareness Month, Liver UK is proud to back the Brussels Call to Action on Liver Cancer, which is a joint statement from the international liver cancer community calling for faster action on prevention, early detection, equitable access to care, research and innovation, and for liver cancer to become a global health priority.
Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. In 2024 there were around 840,000 new cases and 730,000 deaths, and without stronger action, both are expected to rise by more than 55% by 2040.
Making liver cancer a global priority recognises it as a serious public health challenge. It will require coordinated leadership internationally and across the UK.
The Call to Action was agreed at the International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) Annual Conference, held in Brussels from 3 to 5 September 2026. The International Liver Cancer Association is the only international organisation devoted exclusively to liver cancer research.
Every year in the UK, around 6,200 people die from liver cancer, that’s 17 people a day and only 3 in 10 liver cancers are diagnosed at an early stage. Commitment from organisations to focus on prevention and early detection is key to save lives and reduce the burden which is very often felt by the most disadvantaged communities.
The Call for Action asks of global stakeholders, but for national governments and health authorities, the key asks include:
- making liver cancer an explicit priority in national cancer and health strategies, with funded, time-bound targets
- better data on liver cancer, including stage at diagnosis, survival and inequalities
- surveillance for people at higher risk, and earlier diagnosis and treatment
- fair access to treatment, from surgery and transplantation to the latest therapies
- action on the main risk factors, including hepatitis B and C, alcohol and obesity
- putting patients at the centre of decisions and tackling the stigma around liver disease
These asks, when implemented will change lives and improve outcomes. We are therefore proud to support the Call to Action.
Our Advocacy in the UK
We campaign and advocate for similar change in the UK routinely, and we are proud to do so. We have produced impactful reports that calls on the government to prioritise these asks.
Our report Time to act on liver health: Building a healthier future for everyone calls on government to prioritise prevention and early detection, and to tackle health inequalities and stigma. We have been campaigning for similar action across the four nations. Last week we launched Liver disease in Wales: A generational crisis and opportunity for change at the Senedd, calling for a new national plan for liver disease for Wales.
Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of Liver UK, said:
“Liver cancer is the fastest rising and least survivable cancers in the UK, yet almost half of these deaths could be prevented. Too many people are diagnosed too late, when treatment options are limited, and those in our most deprived communities are paying the highest price.
“The Brussels Call to Action sends a clear message that liver cancer can no longer be overlooked. We urge governments across the UK to make it a priority, with a focus on prevention, earlier diagnosis for people at risk, and fair access to treatment and care for everyone.”
Throughout Liver Cancer Awareness Month, we’ll share information and stories to help more people understand their risk and get checked. We’ll also use the Brussels Call to Action to press governments across the UK to make liver cancer a priority.
We will be using the Brussels Call to Action to press UK governments to make liver cancer a priority.
Together, we can turn the tide on liver cancer and liver disease.
