Brits are being urged to stay alert for signs of a deadly disease as shocking figures reveal a sharp rise in fatalities over the past two decades. According to Cancer Research UK, liver cancer has claimed around 81,300 lives across the UK in the last 20 years, making it the fastest-growing cause of cancer-related deaths in the country.
The charity warns that the outlook remains grim, projecting approximately 135,000 more fatalities from liver cancer over the next 15 years, GloucestershireLive reported. This stark trend stands in contrast to declining death rates for most other types of cancer.
Experts believe that up to half of liver cancer cases could be prevented by adopting healthier lifestyle choices. Major risk factors include obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
“This January, try to build healthy habits that last to reduce your risk of cancer,” advised Sophia Lowes, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK. “Keeping a healthy weight, stopping smoking, and cutting back on alcohol can make all the difference.”
It’s also essential to be aware of the early warning signs of liver cancer, as early detection can lead to more effective treatment. The NHS warns that liver cancer may not show symptoms at first, or the symptoms could be hard to identify. Recognizing potential indicators early on is crucial for prompt medical intervention.
The three particular signs you need to look out for in the abdominal area are:
- a lump on the right side of the abdomen,
- pain on the upper right side of the abdomen
- a significantly swollen abdomen unrelated to eating patterns.
“The symptoms are the same if the liver cancer starts in the liver (primary liver cancer) or spreads from another part of the body (secondary liver cancer),” states the NHS.
Other symptoms of liver cancer can include:
- Pain in your right shoulder
- Feeling generally unwell or having symptoms like flu
- Loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
- Feeling tired or having no energy
- Symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling full very quickly when eating
- Feeling or being sick
- The whites of your eyes turning yellow or your skin turning yellow, which may be less obvious on brown or black skin (jaundice) – you may also have itchy skin, darker pee and Paler poo than usual
The NHS emphasised: “Having them does not definitely mean you have liver cancer. But it’s important to get them checked by a GP. This is because if they’re caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it’s easier to treat.”
Cancer Research UK has raised concerns that liver cancer cases and deaths are rising sharply among older age groups, likely due to their historically higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption.
The NHS says you are also more likely to develop liver cancer if you:
- Are over 60 – it’s most common in people over 85
- Have certain medical conditions, such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, gallstones, diabetes, a parasite in the liver (liver flukes) or HIV
- Have a brother, sister or parent who had primary liver cancer
- Are a man
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