Increased diagnosis and treatment of people with hepatitis B is vital to prevent a liver cancer time bomb, experts warn.
A liver cancer prevention policy launched by the Cancer
Council on Monday calls for increased testing of groups at risk of
hepatitis B, and notes that less than half of Australians affected are
aware they carry the disease. About 220,000 Australians are estimated to
have chronic hepatitis B and among those most at risk are people of
Aboriginal background or born overseas in countries where it is endemic,
such as the Asia-Pacific region.
Cancer Council Victoria prevention director Craig Sinclair
said liver cancer was our fastest-growing cancer, with cases set to
double in Australia over the next decade, to about 2500 a year, unless
action was taken.
Labels: Aboriginals, Asia-Pacific, Australia, disease progression, HBV, Liver cancer HCC, testing