CLF Press Releases 2012
Lack of donor organs and poor access to treatment mean mortality rates for liver disease destined to rise
February 16, 2012: When you ignore a health issue, it only tends to get worse. Liver disease has been lurking in the dark gaining strength while individuals and governments devote their attention elsewhere. Reports from Statistics Canada and most recently the Canadian Institutes for Health Information (CIHI) however are revealing glimpses of what the future may hold for liver disease patients if action is not taken soon. With rising liver cancer rates and shortages of donor organs, that future looks bleak.
“The most common forms of liver disease –
hepatitis B and
C,
liver cancer and
fatty liver disease – are chronic conditions that move slowly and may have few symptoms,” says Dr. Morris Sherman, Canadian Liver Foundation Chairman and practicing hepatologist. “In some cases these diseases may not be discovered until they reach an advanced stage when a transplant is the only option. What is more disturbing however is when diseases like hepatitis B or C are diagnosed at an early stage, patients cannot access the treatment they need to avoid the need for a transplant.”
According to the CIHI report on organ transplantation released this week, hepatitis C remains the leading cause of liver transplants in Canada, followed by cholestatic liver disease. Liver cancer has taken over the number 3 spot from alcoholic cirrhosis – an indication that lack of diagnosis and intervention is allowing other forms of liver disease such as hepatitis B to progress to liver cancer.
“When the country is facing a chronic shortage of donor organs, we should be looking at ways to reduce the numbers of people who need them,” says Dr. Sherman. “Livers are the second most frequently transplanted organ and in 2010 74 people died on the waiting list. This is almost as many as died waiting for kidneys despite the fact that there are six times as many people waiting for kidneys. Patients with failing livers do not have an option for dialysis.”
The Canadian Liver Foundation believes that improving organ donor rates is only part of the solution for liver disease patients. “We have the means to significantly reduce the demand for liver transplants,” says Dr. Sherman. “We have treatments for hepatitis B that can effectively control, and in some cases cure, hepatitis B before it turns into liver cancer but in many provinces, these treatments are not accessible to patients. In the case of hepatitis C, many people are still not diagnosed. For those that are, new treatment options are available but once again it comes down to accessibility. If governments do not cover the costs of these drugs, only patients with the financial means or independent coverage will be able to afford them.”
The CIHI report is further evidence that now is the time to address liver disease in Canada. “There are an estimated 600,000 Canadians living with chronic hepatitis B or C. If there are not enough donor organs now, we should be doing everything we can to keep these people off the transplant list in the future. We hope that these statistics will motivate governments to implement policies regarding screening and treatment that will not only benefit patients but help reduce the demand for liver transplants.”
Click here for more information on
hepatitis or the
Canadian Liver Foundation’s positions on liver-related issues.
Cure for liver disease is $1 million closer
Canadian Liver Foundation announces new research funding for 2012
February 6, 2012; In a lab somewhere in Canada, the next breakthrough in the fight against liver disease is waiting to be found. The Canadian Liver Foundation (CLF) will bring this breakthrough a step closer by investing $1 million dollars in liver research in 2012. With these funds, 17 researchers – both senior specialists and new investigators – will pursue studies in liver cancer, pediatric liver disease, tyrosinemia and other forms of liver disease.
“In the past 20 years, we have made incredible progress in unlocking the complexities of the liver and the mechanisms of liver disease,” says Dr. Eric Yoshida, Chairman of the Canadian Liver Foundation’s Medical Advisory Committee. “With hepatitis C for example, we have gone from identifying the virus to being able to cure a large percentage of patients. With enough resources, we can do this with other liver diseases too.”
Fatty liver disease linked to obesity is the now the most common form of liver disease in Canada followed by hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune and alcohol-related liver diseases. An estimated three million Canadians are living with some form of liver disease but may not even be aware of it as symptoms can often be vague or even non-existent until it reaches an advanced stage.
The Canadian Liver Foundation is the largest non-profit funder of liver research in Canada and has invested more than $20 million in research since it was first founded. The Foundation offers funding in three grant categories: Operating grants for senior and new researchers, Graduate studentships for Ph.D. and Masters level researchers and Summer Studentships for undergraduate students. Throughout its history, the CLF has funded 483 researchers at various points in their careers.
“Liver research is chronically underfunded because liver disease is not seen as a priority for governments or individuals,” says Dr. Yoshida. “We are grateful to the Foundation’s supporters – many of whom have been personally affected by liver disease – who give what they can to keep important research moving forward. The answers we find today will help save lives tomorrow.”
The CLF’s grant competition is now open with an application deadline of April 2, 2012. To learn more about the CLF’s research programs,
click here
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Rising liver cancer rates show not enough being done to address contributing factors
Liver cancer is treatable and often preventable
January 19, 2012: Male baby boomers looking forward to retirement may have a nasty surprise waiting for them. According to the recently released Statistics Canada report on Canadian Trends in Cancer Prevalence, liver cancer rates among males aged 50 – 79 are significantly higher than in younger age groups or among women of the same age. What is alarming is that liver cancer rates are on the rise due to the fact that the major causes of primary liver cancer – hepatitis B and hepatitis C – are not being identified and treated early enough.
“Hepatitis B and C do not turn into liver cancer overnight,” says Dr. Morris Sherman, Chairman of the Canadian Liver Foundation and hepatologist who specializes in liver cancer research. “It can take anywhere from two to 20 years which gives us more than enough time to intervene. If we included liver tests as part of annual physicals and did regular liver cancer screening for patients who have been diagnosed with hepatitis B or C, we would be able to catch the early warning signs and take action.”
Where once it was a death sentence, liver cancer is now treatable through a variety of means. If caught early, surgery, treatment with radio waves and other methods can be used to successfully shrink, kill or remove cancerous tumours in the liver.
The Canadian Liver Foundation believes that the key to reversing the trend in liver cancer rates lies in early detection and intervention as well as prevention. “Hepatitis B, for example, is the leading cause of liver cancer world-wide and there are an estimated 300,000 Canadians currently living with this disease,” says Dr. Sherman. “Hepatitis B is particularly prevalent within immigrant populations and they often have the most difficult time accessing affordable treatment options. As a practicing clinician, it is frustrating for me to see liver cancer rates rising when I know it is avoidable through prevention and treatment measures.”
At a time when provinces are reviewing their health care priorities, the Canadian Liver Foundation is calling upon all provinces to institute the following measures to combat liver cancer:
- universal neonatal immunization for hepatitis B;
- liver tests included in annual physicals;
- access to affordable and effective treatment for all chronic hepatitis B and C patients;
- better identification of those patients with liver diseases, including hepatitis B and C who are at risks for liver cancer
- regular liver cancer screening for those at-risk patients;
“The Statistics Canada report provides the data on a serious health issue that the Canadian Liver Foundation and the hepatology community have been aware of for some time,” says Dr. Sherman. “Liver cancer rates are a barometer for the state of liver health in this country. Without decisive action, things will only get worse. We hope that these statistics will be a catalyst for provincial governments to address liver cancer and its contributing factors.”
For more information on liver cancer, click here
For media inquiries, please contact Melanie Kearns at mkearns@liver.ca or 416-491-3353
2011 Press releases
Early diagnosis might have saved Joe Frazier’s life
Thanks to medical advances, liver cancer no longer has to be fatal
November 9, 2011: In the final fight of his life, the odds were stacked against Joe Frazier. Diagnosed with liver cancer in September, the former heavyweight champion passed away on Monday at age 67. Although the exact medical details of his cancer battle are not known, in most cases of liver cancer death may be preventable with early diagnosis and a wide range of possible treatment options.
“Ten years ago, liver cancer was almost always fatal,” says Dr. Morris Sherman, Canadian Liver Foundation Chairman and liver specialist at Toronto General Hospital. “Today it is largely curable if it is caught early. Studies have shown that regular screening can reduce liver cancer mortality by as much as 37 per cent. Unfortunately, when liver cancer is as advanced as Joe Frazier’s probably was, the treatment options are very limited.”
Liver cancer can be the end result of many different forms of liver disease. When the liver is attacked by a virus, the body’s immune system or other toxins, it develops inflammation which can then lead to scarring (cirrhosis) and eventually to liver cancer. The leading cause of liver cancer world-wide is
hepatitis B, followed by
hepatitis C and
fatty liver disease. Joe Frazier’s family has not identified what led to his liver cancer.
“Athletes in contact sports are at risk of contracting hepatitis B or C because they may be exposed to infected blood,” says Dr. Sherman. “When Joe Frazier was in the ring, no one was testing boxers, let alone any other athlete, for these types of viruses. Today, fights can be cancelled if one of the boxers tests positive for hepatitis B or C.” Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccine but there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Joe Frazier’s viral hepatitis status is not known but his boxing career that involved fights against many different opponents in various parts of the world certainly would have put him at risk.
In 2006, Joe Frazier travelled to Toronto to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his showdown at Madison Square Garden with Canadian heavyweight legend George Chuvalo. The two fighters reunited at a Canadian Liver Foundation event to help raise awareness of hepatitis.
For someone who has chronic hepatitis B or has already developed cirrhosis, the risk of developing liver cancer is 3-8 percent per year. The Canadian Liver Foundation recommends that patients with cirrhosis or hepatitis B undergo ultrasound screening for liver cancer every six months.
“Many liver cancer deaths are avoidable,” says Dr. Sherman. “We have the knowledge to treat liver cancer as well as many of the diseases that cause it. Despite this, liver cancer rates in Canada continue to rise. We hope that Joe Frazier’s story will help bring greater attention to the need to screen for liver cancer so it can be identified early enough for treatment.”
For more information on liver cancer,
click here.
About the Canadian Liver Foundation
Founded in 1969 by a group of doctors and business leaders concerned about the increasing incidence of liver disease, the Canadian Liver Foundation (CLF) was the first organization in the world devoted to providing support for research and education into the causes, diagnoses, prevention and treatment of all liver disease. Through its chapters across the country, the CLF strives to promote liver health, improve public awareness and understanding of liver disease, raise funds for research and provide support to individuals affected by liver disease.
For more information, contact
Melanie Kearns
Canadian Liver Foundation
416-491-3353 ext. 4923
mkearns@liver.ca
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Steve Jobs experience is not an accurate reflection of life expectancy for liver transplant recipients
October 7, 2011: Steve Jobs, creator of the most advanced devices in the world could not overcome the complexities – and ultimately the vulnerabilities – of his own body. The liver transplant that Jobs underwent in 2009 bought him two more years of life but could not resolve the pancreatic cancer which had spread to his liver. Although the death of one of the world’s most well known liver transplant recipients is tragic, it is not typical of
liver transplant recipients in general. Seventy five to-85 per cent of liver transplant recipients live more than five years and many live more than 10 years.
“In the case of Steve Jobs his liver transplant was a treatment for a rare form of pancreatic cancer,” says Dr. Morris Sherman, Chairman of the Canadian Liver Foundation and a hepatologist at Toronto General Hospital. “While a transplant can replace a damaged liver, it may not be a long-term solution if the virus or disease is still present and can attack the new organ.” Since about 1.4 litres of blood flows through the liver from the intestinal tract every minute, it can become a collection point for cancer cells coming from the abdomen. The powerful anti-rejection drugs required to keep a recipient’s immune system from rejecting the new organ may leave the recipient vulnerable to a recurrence of cancer.
“For many liver disease patients, a liver transplant is a life-saving intervention that can extend their lives up to decades,” says Dr. Sherman. “Thanks to research, life expectancy post transplant continues to improve. We are also able to perform liver transplants for patients, such as those with
liver cancer, who at one time were not considered viable candidates. Today our challenge is not with the expertise to perform the transplants but rather with the availability of donor organs.”
Steve Jobs was well aware of his good fortune in obtaining a transplant and in turn campaigned for new organ donation legislation to make it easier for people in the U.S. to obtain transplants. In Canada, the liver is the second most transplanted organ but demand far exceeds the supply.
“The Canadian Liver Foundation promotes organ donation and encourages all Canadians to consider being organ donors,” says Dr. Sherman. “Signing up as an organ donor is a positive step that people can take to improve the lives of people living with liver disease. Since we do not yet have effective treatments or cures for all diseases that impact the liver, we will continue to need liver transplants to save lives.”
The Canadian Liver Foundation funds research into all forms of liver disease as well as into the biochemistry and functionality of the organ that can be the end point for so many diseases. The Foundation joins the world in mourning the death of Steve Jobs and hopes that the loss of such a visionary may highlight the need for more organ donors as well as for more attention and resources for both pancreatic and liver disease research.
About the Canadian Liver Foundation
Founded in 1969 by a group of doctors and business leaders concerned about the increasing incidence of liver disease, the Canadian Liver Foundation (CLF) was the first organization in the world devoted to providing support for research and education into the causes, diagnoses, prevention and treatment of all liver disease. Through its chapters across the country, the CLF strives to promote liver health, improve public awareness and understanding of liver disease, raise funds for research and provide support to individuals affected by liver disease.
For more information, contact
Melanie Kearns
Canadian Liver Foundation
416-491-3353 ext. 4923
mkearns@liver.ca
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Healthy short cuts for busy families
Pre-packaged convenience foods recognized as nutritious and delicious in fourth annual LIVERight™ Awards
March 7, 2011 – Busy families trying to find easy and nutritious meal solutions now have a little help. The Canadian Liver Foundation’s 2011 LIVERight™ Awards has recognized 10 packaged and prepared convenience food products as being both delicious and nutritious.
First started in 2008, the
LIVERight™ Awards has two primary goals. The first is to help raise awareness of
fatty liver disease, currently the most common type of liver disease in people living in North America. The second is to identify some practical solutions for individuals and families looking for healthy options to fit into their time-crunched schedules.
“An estimated 1.4 million Canadians have fatty liver disease from poor nutrition and inactivity,” says Canadian Liver Foundation President Gary Fagan. “The LIVERight™ Awards initiative draws public attention to this important health issue and creates an opportunity for companies to be recognized for their effort to be part of the solution.”
LIVERight™ Award submissions came from both well-recognized brands as well as smaller start-ups. Submissions were evaluated for their nutritional content and then in a blind taste test by nutrition and food experts.
“We understand that time pressures often make it challenging to maintain a healthy diet and there are many products on the market making a variety of health claims, says Billie Potkonjak, National Director of Health Promotion and Manager of the LIVERight™ Awards. “This year’s winners provide options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We were pleased to see a number of new companies getting involved as well as some of the previous year’s winners returning to the competition with new products.”
For a complete list of winners, click here
A
bout the LIVERight™ Awards
The Canadian Liver Foundation’s LIVERight™ Awards competition addresses Canadians’ need for convenient food options that are both delicious and nutritious.
This annual national award program was created to raise awareness of North America’s most common form of liver disease, fatty liver disease caused by poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles. The disease is already estimated to be present in 18 to 24 per cent of the North American population, including children as young as two years of age.
A liver can develop deposits of fat as a result of poor nutrition or alcohol. The abnormal presence of fat in the liver can lead to serious consequences, such as inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), permanent scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and even cancer.
2011 Award categories included: Best Kid-Friendly Item; Best Breakfast Item; Best Vegetarian Item; Best Ethnic Item; Best Snack; Best Lunchbox Item; Best Starter/Appetizer; Best Side Dish, Best Snack, Best Condiment and Best Family-Friendly Item.
Entries are judged on nutritional value, taste, visual appeal, aroma, texture, freshness and innovation. Winners may use the LIVERight™ Awards logo to leverage their product. For more details visit: www.liver.ca/liverightawards.
The 2011 judging panel included:
Theresa Albert, D.H.N., R.N.C.P. (host of the popular Food Network series Just One Bite, owner of Thyme for Supper, and author of Ace Your Health and Cook Once a Week, Eat Well Every Day),
James Smith (award-winning professional chef and professor at George Brown College),
Judy Scott Welden (Nutritionist/Home Economist, Television Food Pro) and Diana Mager, PhD, R.D. (Assistant Professor, Clinical Nutrition, University of Alberta).
Canadian Liver Foundation
The LIVERight™ Awards are part of the Canadian Liver Foundation’s LIVERight™ initiative that aims to make liver health a priority for all Canadians. For 40 years, the Canadian Liver Foundation's mandate has been to reduce the incidence and impact of all liver diseases. Through the national office and chapters across Canada, the Foundation actively supports education and research into the causes, diagnoses, prevention and treatment of liver disease.
For media inquiries contact:
Melanie Kearns
P: 416-491-3353 E:
mkearns@liver.ca
