Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 12:00 p.m
Hanover – On February 4, 2024, the International Association Against Cancer (UICC) is hosting World Cancer Day. The day of action was launched at the World Summit Against Cancer in Paris in 2000. The three-year campaign theme (2022 to 2024) is “Closing care gaps” and this year it is increasingly focusing on the involvement of managers. The German Liver Foundation, whose fields of action include improving care for patients with liver tumors as well as providing information about prevention, diagnostics and therapies, supports World Cancer Day. On the occasion of the increasing number of cases and high mortality rates for liver tumors, the foundation is providing information as part of the action day.
This year, World Cancer Day on February 4th aims to raise awareness of tumor diseases. That’s why the three-year campaign theme “Closing care gaps” focuses on the involvement of managers: “Close the care gap: Together, we challenge those in power”.
Prof. Dr. explains how important it is to turn to political decision-makers in the fight against tumor diseases in order to achieve improvements. Michael P. Manns, CEO of the German Liver Foundation: “One of the goals that the German Liver Foundation pursues is to improve the early detection of liver diseases in order to prevent complications such as liver tumors or to be able to treat them at an early stage. In many cases, liver damage or liver disease can be detected and successfully treated at an early stage – provided that the doctor and patient are aware of the vital organ and its health status. For many years, the German Liver Foundation has addressed the important demand for politicians to establish screening programs aimed at the early detection of liver diseases – with initial success: since October 1, 2021, one-time screening for hepatitis has been an additional preventive service B and C offered. The aim is to detect previously undetected infections with the hepatitis viruses B (HBV) and C (HCV) and to prevent liver cirrhosis and liver tumors through therapy. With this expansion of the health examination, which can be used every three years by those with statutory health insurance from the age of 35, hepatology has finally become part of the health care awareness.”
When it comes to liver cancer, a distinction is made between primary liver cell cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) and secondary liver cancer (e.g. metastases). Primary hepatocellular carcinoma occurs when the malignant tumor develops directly from the liver’s own cells. There are other primary cancers of the liver such as cholangiocarcinoma (cholangiocellular adenocarcinoma CCA), which can arise if the bile ducts are inflamed repeatedly or for a very long time. A CCA can affect the bile ducts inside the liver (intrahepatic) and outside the liver (extrahepatic) or the gallbladder (gallbladder carcinoma). This tumor is relatively rare; the frequency of this tumor variant has also been increasing recently – as with HCC.
In addition to the viral hepatitis described by Prof. Manns, there are other liver tumor risks: health problems that have been increasing for years and can lead to liver diseases – and increasingly also to liver tumors – are overweight and obesity (obesity). A current data analysis by the Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH) shows that the proportion of those affected increased by around 30 percent between 2012 and 2022: one in nine people in Germany is obese. The increase is also alarming among children and young people. The higher the body weight, the higher the risk of serious secondary diseases such as steatotic liver disease (SLD, also known as fatty liver disease), which already affects one in four people in this country. Four percent even have an inflamed liver due to a metabolic disorder, i.e. metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis – MASH). In most chronic liver diseases, the risk of tumor formation in the liver cirrhosis stage is increased: liver cell cancer can develop (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). However, in MASH, HCC can occur before cirrhosis is present.
“Like many other cancers, liver tumors can often be prevented. For example, obesity is a disease that can have many causes. Therefore, those affected should clarify with their family doctor whether there are any health risks due to their weight and, for example, discuss and clarify possible liver disease,” explains Prof. Manns and names a few other factors that can reduce the risk of liver cell tumors: “Offers a protective factor the hepatitis B vaccination. Alcohol consumption should be limited, excess weight reduced and more exercise integrated into everyday life. Existing diabetes mellitus should be carefully controlled and other liver-damaging underlying diseases should also be treated early and regularly. Hepatitis viral infections should be treated according to current guidelines. And consuming at least four cups of coffee daily reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome and the development of the resulting steatotic liver disease, the development of liver cirrhosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in all liver diseases.”
In recent years, the treatment options for advanced liver cancer have improved with the availability of immunomodulatory therapies and systemic therapies are now available that intervene in the signaling pathways for tumor growth. In addition, the so-called immune checkpoint inhibitors enable the immune system to be specifically activated to detect and eliminate cancer cells. The staggered use of different forms of therapy improves the prognosis of affected patients.
The most important aspect for the success of liver tumor therapy is still early detection; then they are usually easier to treat and sometimes even curable.
Further information
The German Liver Foundation offers short brochures on the topics of “Liver and Cancer” and “Cancer of the Biliary Duct and Gallbladder (CCA)”, which can be ordered free of charge or downloaded from www.deutsche-leberstiftung.de.
German Liver Foundation
The German Liver Foundation deals with the liver, liver diseases and their treatments. Its goal is to improve patient care through research funding, research networking and scientific projects. Through intensive public relations work, the foundation increases public awareness of liver diseases so that they can be detected and cured earlier. The German Liver Foundation also offers information and advice on medical issues. On the website you will find extensive information and images for those affected, interested parties, members of the expert community and media representatives: www.deutsche-leberstiftung.de.
OUR BOOKING RECOMMENDATIONS
“The big cookbook for the liver” – 122 recipes with all important nutritional information; Kitchen tips and rules for a healthy liver diet, September 2022. The book is available in bookstores: ISBN 978-3-8426-3100-7 € 28.00 [D].
“The Liver Book” provides understandable and comprehensive information about the liver, liver diseases, their diagnoses and therapies, 4th expanded and updated edition September 2021 and is available in bookstores: ISBN 978-3-8426-3043-7, € 19.99 [D].
Journalists can email review copies of the books for their reporting [email protected] request.