Impact of liver cancer

Liver cancer is the fastest growing cause of cancer-related deaths in Australia – yet there is so little research and so little is known about its prevalence, detection or treatment in Australia.

As the peak body for liver cancer, the Liver Foundation, commissioned a study by Deloitte into the social and economic cost of primary liver cancer in Australia – as a piece of foundational evidence to turn around the discussions for government funding support and to raise public awareness of the disease.

Finding that liver cancer cost Australia $4.8 billion in 2019-20, that the cost to the country’s health system per person with liver cancer is one of the highest of all diseases, and that liver cancer is over-represented in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; the report laid the foundations for a credible government and public relations exercise.

Australian Public Affairs firstly assisted with public awareness, securing a total of 61 media items about the Deloitte Report across TV, radio, print and online channels, reaching 2.58 million Australians.

The Liver Foundation has also engaged APA to undertake Government Relations work advocating for financial investment to continue to increase awareness and education around early detection and prevention of liver disease and less invasive screening.