A beer bottle is shown at a nightclub in southern Philippines. Noel Celis/AFP, file

The prevalence of liver diseases, including liver cancer, presents a significant public health challenge in the Philippines, leading to mortality rates of 27.3 deaths per 1,000 from liver-related conditions.

To raise awareness about this increasing health concern, the Philippine Association of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgeons Inc (PAHPBSI) organized simultaneous Lay Forums at different health institutions all over the country during the Liver Cancer Awareness Month in January.

These lay forums aim to enhance public knowledge regarding liver cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Since 2020, PAHPBSI have organized lay forums at several hospitals nationwide to explain the risk factors associated with liver cancer, which include viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and lifestyle choices.

The importance of early detection and preventive measures is emphasized during these lay forums, highlighting the connection between liver cancer and prevalent liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD).

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Specific forums held this year include:

• Vicente Sotto Medical Center, Cebu: Dr. Gilbert Oporto led a discussion on symptoms and prevention strategies for liver health.

• Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao: Dr. Honey Lee Tan focused on regular screenings and healthy lifestyle choices to mitigate the risk of liver cancer, paralleling recommendations for managing conditions like NAFLD.

• Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Cagayan: Dr. Erwin Baguinon emphasized Hepatitis B vaccination and safe practices to prevent Hepatitis C, given the high prevalence of Hepatitis B in the population (between 10.4% and 16.7%).

• Quezon Medical Center, Lucena: Dr. Jas Andaman-Garcia provided information on the early signs of liver cancer and available support resources to promote early diagnoses and better outcomes.

As liver cancer awareness grows, it is essential to consider this within the broader scope of liver disease management.

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Hepatitis B and C remain major public health concerns, with Hepatitis B's high infection rates necessitating widespread screening and vaccination efforts to prevent it’s further spread.

Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of NAFLD, driven by the rise in obesity, underlines the need for lifestyle changes and management strategies.

Alcohol-related liver disease is also increasing, particularly among individuals with substance use disorders, highlighting the need for a comprehensive treatment approach.

PAHPBSI’s initiative for Liver Cancer Awareness Month underscores the importance of community engagement in addressing liver diseases in the Philippines.

This approach—centering on early detection, education, and lifestyle change—along with ongoing efforts to address viral hepatitis and other liver conditions, is crucial in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with liver diseases.

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The people in the different communities are encouraged to participate in local forums, take charge of their health, and spread awareness about liver cancer prevention and the management of liver diseases.

By making the knowledge of liver cancer and its causes and how to prevent them readily available to our countrymen, we might eventually start to win the fight against liver cancer — a possibly preventable disease — one small step at a time.

Established in September 1936, the Philippine College of Surgeons is the country's premier organization of surgical professionals. PCS has several surgical specialty societies including the Philippine Association of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgeons Inc.