With survival rates still alarmingly low, the Liver Foundation’s free initiative offers guidance for the 3000-plus Australians diagnosed each year.
The Liver Foundation has launched a nationwide, nurse-led support line offering free, specialised care to Australians diagnosed with primary liver cancer.
Until now, these patients, who are often managed outside traditional cancer centres, have had limited access to tailored support.
The new service provides patients and carers with guidance from nurses experienced in liver cancer and liver disease.
It’s designed to bridge a long-standing care gap, particularly for people in regional and remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and those with limited English proficiency.
Support is available for people diagnosed with liver disease or liver cancer; family, friends and carers of people diagnosed with liver disease or liver cancer; anyone who is supporting someone with liver disease, including friends, family, multicultural support workers, GPs, Aboriginal health workers; and anyone with general concerns about liver cancer symptoms or testing.
Support line nurses can talk about the general signs and symptoms of liver cancer and underlying liver disease; suggest questions to ask a doctor or specialist hospital nurse; provide general information and education on the treatments for liver cancer and underlying liver disease; and provide general information and education on a liver cancer diagnosis (such as imaging that may be used, treatments, side effects).
Each year, more than 3000 Australians are diagnosed with primary liver cancer, with only one in five people surviving beyond five years. The most common form of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is now one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer-related deaths in the country. 
“Left undiagnosed or untreated, liver conditions both common and rare can progress to liver cirrhosis, which significantly increases the risk of HCC – the most common form of primary liver cancer,” said Professor Simone Strasser, head of department and senior staff specialist at the AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre.
She is also medical co-director of the Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney, and a past president of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia.
“Given that 80-90% of patients with primary liver cancer already have pre-existing liver conditions – awareness of liver disease, and support for patients has never been more important,” said Professor Strasser.
She said that while a diagnosis of liver cancer was complex and confronting, early detection and timely management was the key to increasing survival rates.
“This is why raising awareness, improving diagnosis and providing support for all forms of liver disease as well as liver cancer is critical,” she said.
The Liver Foundation is Australia’s peak body representing all people affected by liver disease and liver cancer. The support line was established with funding from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program.
The free nurse-led support line is now available from 8am to 6pm (AEST), on 1800 841 118. Nurses are happy to work through translators, TIS National or Auslan.
More information about the support line is available here.
