Dr. Gish explains the importance of liver cancer surveillance
Dr. Robert Gish, a hepatologist and the medical director of the Hepatitis B Foundation, explains the importance of liver cancer surveillance.
"I’m here to talk with the Hepatitis B community about the need for liver cancer screening and surveillance.
"Screening is the first test to provide early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC. Surveillance is the term we use for regular testing that includes imaging for liver cancer.
"Surveillance is vitally important because early detection of liver cancer can increase the survival rate by more than 50% and leads to a much higher cure rate.
"Surveillance for liver cancer is painless – it only requires an ultrasound and alfa-fetoprotein blood test as well as the possibility of two other FDA cleared blood tests, AFPL3% and DCP to help calculate a GALAD score.
"We generally recommend HCC surveillance for people with hepatitis B every six months, but people with certain risk factors may begin surveillance earlier and more often with more advanced imaging such as CT or MR scans. This includes those people with cirrhosis, people of African and Asian descent, and those with a family history of liver cancer, as well as those with an elevated HCC risk score. Please check with your doctor to see if you require more frequent surveillance.
"Thank you on behalf of the Hepatitis B Foundation."
__________________________________________________
The Hepatitis B Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B worldwide. Our commitment includes funding focused research, promoting disease awareness, supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary source of information for patients and their families, the medical and scientific community, and the general public.
Learn more here: www.hepb.org
-
Category
No comments found