Another mysterious cancer explosion: unexpected rise, death rates double, making it Britain’s fastest rising cancer killer

Doctors are urging people to make healthier lifestyle changes as the number of deaths from liver cancer is almost double what it was two decades ago.

The disease has killed more than 81,000 people over the past two decades, with deaths expected to rise by a further 10 per cent by 2040, according to new analysis from Cancer Research UK.

Liver cancer now kills 5,800 people in Britain every year, up from 2,200 in the late 1990s, making it the fastest rising cause of death in Britain and responsible for double the number of deaths from skin cancer.

It is currently the eighth most common cause of death from cancer in Britain, but by 2040 the charity warns it could be sixth.

The charity estimates that the disease has killed around 81,300 people over the past 20 years, and is expected to kill around 135,000 people in the next 15 years.

But around half of liver cancer cases can be prevented by lifestyle changes, according to the charity, which has urged the government to ‘help people live healthier lives’ in a bid to ‘save thousands of lives and save the NHS millions to rescue’.

Around a quarter of all cases of liver cancer in Britain are caused by obesity, while a fifth are linked to smoking, and one in fourteen are due to excessive alcohol consumption, research shows.

Cigarette smoke contains at least 70 cancer-causing chemicals and when they enter our lungs, they can cause damage throughout the body, including the liver.

Liver cancer now kills 5,800 people in Britain every year, up from 2,200 in the late 1990s, making it the fastest rising cause of death in Britain. Symptoms include unexplained weight loss, jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes – itching, nausea or a swollen abdomen

These chemicals damage DNA, including the parts that help prevent cells from becoming cancerous.

However, there are other factors, such as age, that can increase the risk. For example, men and people over 60 are more likely to develop the disease, although it is most common in people over 85.

People with certain medical conditions such as gallstones, hepatitis, diabetes and HIV are also at higher risk, as are those whose siblings or a parent had liver cancer.

Dr. Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK, called on the Government to help people live healthier lives in a bid to reduce cancer deaths.

“The UK government has the opportunity to help people live healthier lives, which could save thousands of lives, and the NHS millions,” he said.

‘This is especially important for liver cancer, where around half of all cases are preventable.

‘One of the main risk factors for the disease is smoking, which is why we are asking all MPs to support the Tobacco and Vape Bill.

‘It is essential that this is passed into law as soon as possible, to bring us closer to a smoke-free Britain and a future free from the harms of tobacco.’

Sophia Lowes, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, also advised people to maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking and drink less alcohol.

She also urged people with symptoms to see their doctor.

‘Signs and symptoms of liver cancer include unexplained weight loss, jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes – itching, nausea or a swollen abdomen,’ Ms Lowes said.

Another charity warned there is a ‘postcode lottery’ in the early detection of liver disease, which can increase the risk of developing liver cancer.

Research from the British Liver Trust, published in the British Journal of General Practice, shows that 80 percent of regional health authorities in England do not have an effective pathway to diagnose and treat liver disease.

Pamela Healy, CEO of the British Liver Trust, said: ‘Our research shows that when it comes to the early detection of liver disease, there is a postcode lottery.

‘While there have been some improvements and good practice since the last survey, this variation is not good enough and widespread preventive measures are woefully inadequate. We need to ensure there is an effective pathway across Britain so that everyone has equal access to care.

‘The liver is an incredibly resilient organ, but only up to a point. Symptoms of liver disease often do not appear until the damage has progressed and the liver begins to fail. If the disease is detected early, it can often be stopped or sometimes even reversed.’

It comes after new analysis found that 58 per cent of people in England diagnosed with the six ‘least survivable’ cancers, including liver cancer, will die from their disease within a year.

These cancers are often diagnosed at a later stage; only 28 percent of patients in Britain are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, when the disease is more treatable.

That’s compared to 54 percent of all other cancers diagnosed at stages 1 or 2.

Late-stage diagnosis has significant consequences and limits options for treatments that could significantly improve survival rates, experts from the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce warn.