Surge in liver cancer cases is linked to cheap alcohol and junk food by health charity

A leading health charity yesterday called for a clampdown on cheap alcohol and junk food amid a surge in liver cancer deaths.

Unhealthy diets have fuelled a 40 per cent rise in fatalities from the disease in the past decade, according to the British Liver Trust.

It is now the fastest rising cause of cancer deaths in the UK, with mortality rates more than tripling since the early 1970s.

Trust chief executive Pamela Healy said: ‘The key drivers for the increase in cases and deaths are alcohol and obesity.

‘Too many of us are drinking too much alcohol and are overweight. We urgently need government action on both issues.

‘The Government must urgently tackle the accessibility and abundance of unhealthy food which is often significantly cheaper.’

Her comments to The Observer come after ministers delayed the introduction of rules banning supermarket multi-buy deals on foods high in fat, sugar or salt.

The Association of Directors of Public Health also wants minimum pricing on alcohol.

This measure was introduced in Scotland in 2018 with a minimum price of 50p a unit.

Evidence on the rising rates of liver cancer has been submitted by the charity to a Commons health committee inquiry into innovations in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The submission calls for earlier diagnosis, better access to the most effective treatment and a greater focus on prevention. 

It added that the biggest risk factor for developing liver cancer is liver disease, which can be reversed through lifestyle changes including losing weight and cutting down on alcohol.

The trust says: ‘Population-wide measures which regulate the affordability and accessibility of alcohol and unhealthy food are proven to be more effective than individual behaviour change in reducing disease.’ 

The charity calls for a comprehensive alcohol strategy tackling promotions and affordability, highlighting how drink causes at least seven types of cancer.

Liver cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers with only 13 per cent of those diagnosed living for five years or more (File photo: Alcohol deals in a supermarket)   

There are around 6,000 cases of primary liver cancer diagnosed in the UK each year, around 16 per day. 

Only 13 per cent of those diagnosed with primary liver cancer live for five years or more as it has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers.

In its submission to the inquiry, the Department of Health says it is committed to diagnosing 75 per cent of all cancers early at stage 1 or stage 2 by 2028. 

Measures against liver cancer include community health checks for those with a high risk of cirrhosis.

A department spokesman said action to encourage healthier food and drink choices plus tackle obesity included calorie labelling on food sold in restaurants, cafes and takeaways.

‘Obesity costs the NHS around £6.5billion a year and is the second biggest cause of cancer,’ he added. 

‘The NHS has seen and treated record numbers of cancer patients over the last two years and cancer is being diagnosed at an earlier stage more often.’