​Liver team.png​A team of liver experts have taken to the road in a bid to reduce liver cancer rates in north London – helping hundreds of people access vital preventative care.  

The Royal Free London team, who operate from inside a special van, bring health checks to those from vulnerable communities in north London and Hertfordshire.  

Since the scheme started two years ago, they have carried out 3,500 scans and helped those indicating early signs of liver disease access care. 

October is liver cancer awareness week. Over 6,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with liver cancer each year but only a third of those are found early enough for the disease to be cured. It has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers – and that’s why the liver team’s work is so important.  

The scans provide instant results, allowing clinicians to spot signs of liver disease or cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) – the biggest risk factors for developing liver cancer.  

Liver senior clinical fellow Daniel Gutmann, who leads the programme, said: “People who have liver disease are more likely to get liver cancer. We want to pick up liver disease in the early stages where we can help people reverse the damage, if possible.  

“If someone has advanced liver disease, they are referred to see a hepatologist and put onto the liver cancer surveillance programme, where their liver is monitored every six months. The chances of liver cancer being picked up early, and therefore the potential for curable treatment, is higher.”  

“Just under 9% of the people we scan show signs of liver disease or cirrhosis, and they’re then referred to their local liver unit,” Michael Griffiths, assistant practitioner in hepatology, said. “We target people who face multiple barriers to accessing healthcare. This may be those in unstable housing or struggling with addiction. Being mobile helps us reach those groups”.  

The team regularly visit local alcohol services and community events, and have recently expanded to visiting organisations. Their latest visit took them to Hertfordshire Zoo.  

“The ability to go out into the community and see those who wouldn’t normally engage with healthcare is really important and special,” Daniel said. “We need to do as much as we possibly can to support them to engage, and this programme helps to do that by coming to them.” 

Around 90% of liver disease cases could be prevented. Help keep your liver healthy by: 

  • drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across three days or more, and making sure to have alcohol free days each week  
  • keep to a healthy diet and exercise regularly  
  • protect yourself against viral hepatitis.  

Find out more on how to look out for your liver from the British Liver Trust.  

Read more about liver services at the Royal Free London.