Canberra is a city that prides itself on strong community, access to healthcare, and looking out for one another; but when it comes to cancer, some conversations still don’t get the attention they deserve. Liver cancer, while it’s often spoken about less than other cancers, links to liver health and viral hepatitis.
Understanding how liver cancer affects our local community helps Canberrans make informed choices about prevention, testing and early care pathways. This local lens matters even more as we mark World Cancer Day on February 4, when communities around the world come together to reflect, learn and take action. This year’s theme, United by Unique, reminds us that behind every statistic is a real person and that personalised prevention, early detection and access to care play a critical role in reducing harm. For us that means, paying attention to liver health, understanding local risk factors, and making sure the right information and support are easy to find.
Understanding the Liver Cancer Landscape
Liver cancer remains less common than more frequently diagnosed cancers such as prostate or breast cancer, but its impact has steadily increased over recent years. In Australia liver cancer continues to rise, in 2025 there were an estimate of 3,175 new cases and 2,632 deaths.1 This data highlights it’s growing impact despite relatively lower diagnosis numbers compared to other cancers. While statistics help us understand direction, they don’t capture the individual journeys behind them. Each diagnosis reflects a unique pathway influenced by personal health history, access to testing, cultural background, stigma, and the timing of care.
Tools like the Australian Cancer Atlas help map out how cancer occurrence and outcomes vary across small geographical regions, including within the ACT. While Canberra does not show extreme outliers compared to some other parts of Australia, the Atlas reinforces an important message: where you live, how you access healthcare, and when you engage with services all influence health outcomes. Understanding these patterns helps guide where awareness, screening and support matter most in our community.
Images sourced from The Australian Cancer Atlas
How Viral Hepatitis is Linked to Liver Cancer
One of the most important aspects of liver cancer prevention is understanding its strong link with viral hepatitis. Chronic infection with hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses are among the leading risk factors for liver cancer in Australia; particularly when they go undiagnosed or untreated for long periods, this is because viral hepatitis can remain asymptomatic – (show no symptoms) for years. These viruses cause long-term inflammation and scarring, without regular monitoring, liver damage can progress quietly, increasing the risk of (cirrhosis), which significantly increases liver cancer risk over many years. In fact, chronic hepatitis infections are classified as ‘carcinogenic’ (something that has the potential to cause cancer) and contribute to a substantial proportion of primary liver cancers.
In Canberra, access to testing and care is available, being United by Unique means recognising that access is not the same for everyone. Past healthcare experiences, stigma, language barriers, uncertainty about where to go, or competing life pressures can delay diagnosis even when services exist. Addressing these barriers is just as important as the medical care itself. Effective testing, early treatment and ongoing monitoring can reduce the likelihood of long-term complications, including liver cancer. This is why regular screening and early care pathways like our organisation and many others exist, why they matter and why understanding your liver health is not something to delay.
Image sourced from World Cancer Day, United by Unique Campaign Assets
Things you can do for a Healthier Future
World Cancer Day isn’t just about statistics, it’s about taking action that can make a difference both locally and personally. Here are some practical steps you can consider:
Know your risk factors: If you’ve ever had exposure to blood-borne viruses, a history of hepatitis, a family history of liver disease, ongoing alcohol use, received a blood transfusion before or during the 1980’s, or have lived in or travelled to countries where access to clean water, sanitation, or safe medical practices may differ from Australia – it’s worth speaking with a GP about liver health checks.
Get tested for viral hepatitis: Testing and treatment can prevent progression to cirrhosis and reduce liver cancer risk. If you think you may have been exposed to viral hepatitis, we are available 5 days a week for drop ins to provide free, timely testing and link you with care should your test indicate a positive result.
Adopt liver-healthy habits: Good nutrition, physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing alcohol intake are parts of long-term liver health.
Understand your liver pattern locally: Tools like the Australian Cancer Atlas let you explore how cancer occurrence and outcomes compare in your community, helping you advocate for services and support where they’re needed.
Image sourced from World Cancer Day, United by Unique Campaign Assets
World Cancer Day is a reminder that you can take preventative steps in your liver journey and if you find yourself in a position where liver cancer arises, it is a timely reminder that it can affect us all differently – with unique circumstances influencing how we prevent, detect and manage this disease. In Canberra, understanding liver cancer means seeing the way things like viral hepatitis and local health resources integrate with everyday lives. Take time to check in with your health, ask questions, understand your risk, and speak with a health professional. Putting in the time now creates better outcomes for yourself and your community.
Got questions? – Free call our HepLink line: 1800 437 222
Drop in to see us: 36 David St, Turner ACT 2612 – Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Have a look when we will be near you: Outreach Services – providing care on the go