Almost 8,500 people in England have been referred for liver cancer checks since the launch of the NHS community liver health check programme two years ago.
The initiative, which began as a pilot with 11 teams, has expanded to 20 mobile liver scanning units now operating across every region of England.
According to the latest NHS England figures, 112,831 people have received a fibroscan to check for liver damage, with 8,470 referred on for cancer checks as a result. The programme targets at-risk groups, including those with high alcohol consumption, current or past viral hepatitis, and non-alcoholic liver disease.
Fibroscans can detect cirrhosis and advanced fibrosis, which significantly increase the risk of liver cancer. If liver damage is detected, people are referred for further tests, helping to catch cancers earlier.
Patients identified as higher risk are referred to hospital clinics for further testing and may be placed on a surveillance programme.
The mobile trucks move around different areas offering checks in GP practices, recovery services, food banks, football matches, workplaces, supermarkets and homeless shelters to perform quick non-invasive scans.
In some areas, peer support workers who have lived experience of liver disease are offering support to help people attend appointments.
Liver cancer is the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK. The most common primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which makes up 85% of all liver cancers.
Pamela Healy OBE, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: ‘Liver cancer often develops silently, and many people are only diagnosed at a stage when treatment options are limited. We know that the biggest risk factor is pre-existing cirrhosis, which is why detecting liver disease earlier is so vital.’
The NHS teams delivering the scans work with local communities and charities to identify people most in need of tests and support. Some have partnered with GP practices to scan people with conditions such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
NHS national cancer director, Professor Peter Johnson, said the programme was ‘a great example of the health service increasing its focus on prevention’.
‘By reaching out into communities and making it easier for people to get checked, we will catch more cancers at an early stage, when the chances of successful treatment are much higher, and this can save lives,’ he said.
Latest figures showed the NHS hit the Faster Diagnosis Standard with 76.8% – or 218,463 people – having cancer ruled out or diagnosed within 28 days, the highest June since the standard was introduced. Over 53,000 patients started treatment for cancer within 31 days.
