GPs are set to play a greater role in liver cancer prevention, including surveillance of at-risk patient groups, under new guidelines being developed by Cancer Council Australia.

The guidance would address current gaps in liver cancer prevention, including screening for viral hepatitis and cirrhosis, said Dr Nicole Allard, co-chair of the council’s expert advisory committee for hepatocellular carcinoma.

“The guidelines are clear that anyone with liver cirrhosis, no matter what the antecedent cause, if they have a reasonable predicted survival … should be offered and considered for liver cancer surveillance, especially if they are willing to undergo intervention,” she told Australian Doctor.

“For people at risk of liver cancer, we need to make sure they are treated if they have got hepatitis B, they are cured if they have got hepatitis C and, if they are at added risk, they are under regular surveillance.