Booze culture blamed as liver cancer trebles in 30 years

Published on Wednesday 19 August 2009 22:06

LIVER cancer has tripled over the past 30 years with experts blaming the UK's drinking culture and rising obesity rates for the increase.

Figures released today by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) show that in 1975 there were 865 cases of cancer originating in the liver but by 2006 this had risen to 3,108.

Primary liver cancer has been rare in the UK and the western world accounting for 1.09 per cent of all cancers.

In Scotland, 256 men and 122 women died from liver cancer in 2007, according to ISD Scotland statistics, the Scottish Government's official gatherer of health statistics.

Matt Seymour, professor of gastrointestinal cancer medicine at the University of Leeds, said: "Three main risk factors for liver cirrhosis – alcohol, obesity and hepatitis C infection – are getting more common in the UK. So we are seeing more patients with cirrhosis and, in turn, more patients with primary liver cancer.

Dr Lesley Walker, CRUK's director of cancer information, said: "While this increase is a concern, it is important for people to understand how their risk of liver cancer can be reduced by changes to lifestyle.

"Cutting down on alcohol and watching your weight will help to reduce the risk of a wide range of cancers."

Dr Mark Matfield, of the Association for International Cancer Research, in St Andrews, described the increase as "very significant."