A major new paper published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe has highlighted the challenges of detecting liver cancer earlier across Europe and sets out practical lessons from countries around the world to improve surveillance programmes. Liver UK is proud to have contributed to this important work through the involvement of Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Policy and Communications.
Liver cancer is one of the fastest-rising causes of cancer death, and the most common type, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), often develops in people living with advanced liver disease, particularly cirrhosis. Finding liver cancer early can significantly improve treatment options and outcomes, making effective surveillance programmes essential.
What is liver cancer surveillance?
Liver cancer surveillance involves regularly monitoring people who are at increased risk of developing liver cancer, even when they have no symptoms.
This usually involves an ultrasound scan every six months and, in some cases, blood tests. The aim is to detect liver cancer at the earliest possible stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
For many people living with cirrhosis, surveillance is an important part of ongoing care.
What does the new paper tell us?
The paper brings together experts from across Europe to examine how liver cancer surveillance is delivered and where improvements are needed. The authors found significant variation between countries and identified a number of common challenges. These include:
- Many people who are eligible for surveillance are not identified or enrolled.
- Access to surveillance services differs between regions.
- Practical barriers can make it difficult for some people to attend regular appointments.
- Healthcare systems often lack effective processes for tracking patients and ensuring they receive timely surveillance.
- There is variation in the tools and approaches used to monitor people at risk of liver cancer.
The paper also highlights examples of good practice from around the world and explores how European countries can learn from these approaches to improve early detection and patient outcomes.
Why this matters to patients
Liver cancer often develops without obvious symptoms in its early stages. This means people can feel well even when cancer is present.
Regular surveillance offers the best chance of detecting liver cancer before symptoms develop. Earlier diagnosis can open the door to treatments that may be curative or significantly extend life.
If you are living with cirrhosis or another liver condition that puts you at increased risk of liver cancer, it is important to discuss surveillance with your healthcare team and attend any appointments you are offered. You can read more here
Putting patients at the centre
A key message from the paper is that successful surveillance programmes are not just about scans and technology. They must also work for the people they are designed to serve.
This means making services accessible, reducing barriers to attendance, ensuring patients understand why surveillance is important, and involving people with lived experience in the design of services.
Liver UK was pleased to contribute a patient and policy perspective to the publication, helping to ensure that the experiences and needs of people living with liver disease are reflected in future discussions about liver cancer surveillance.
Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Policy and Communications at Liver UK and co-author of the paper, said:
“Too many people are diagnosed with liver cancer when treatment options are already limited. Effective surveillance can save lives by finding cancer earlier, but only if people are identified, invited and supported to attend. Patients must be at the heart of surveillance programmes, and their experiences should help shape how services are designed and delivered.”
Looking ahead
As the number of people living with liver disease continues to grow, improving liver cancer surveillance will become increasingly important. This new paper provides valuable insights into how health systems across Europe can strengthen surveillance programmes and improve outcomes for patients.
At Liver UK, we are committed to championing earlier diagnosis, improving access to care and ensuring that the patient voice is heard in research, policy and service development.
Read the full paper: Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in Europe: challenges and lessons from global practice, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. Link: [thelancet.com]
