Liver cancer deaths are surging due to late diagnosis of the less survivable cancers

Posted on: 13th January 2023

The British Liver Trust marked the Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day by calling for urgent action from parliamentarians in Westminster, the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd to tackle delays in diagnosis for deadly cancers leading to catastrophic outcomes. 

The British Liver Trust, along with the five other health charities form the Less Survivable Cancer Taskforce (LSCT) represent the six less survivable cancers, liver, lung, brain, oesophageal, pancreatic and stomach. Combined these cancers make up nearly half of all common cancer deaths in the UK.  

Shockingly, liver cancer is now the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK with almost 9 in 10 liver cancer patients dying within 5 years of being diagnosed (13% survival rate). Liver cancer is a silent killer as there are often no symptoms in its early stages. Symptoms include weight loss, jaundice, swelling in your abdomen and itchy skin.  

Over 40 MPs attended the LSCT event at Westminster on Wednesday and over 20 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) attended the Holyrood event on Tuesday including Public Health Minister Maree Todd MSP. 

Read more on our Liver Cancer UK website