Increase early detection of hepatitis B

Liver cancer is the sixth most common, and fastest growing cause of cancer-related deaths in Victoria, with 450 Victorians losing their life to this disease in 2022. The most common form of liver cancer is Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).

Almost half of all liver cancers in Victoria are linked to a viral hepatitis diagnosis. Hepatitis B can be diagnosed with a simple blood test but there are thousands of Victorians living with the virus who remain undiagnosed.

Recent data from The Doherty Institute’s Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project found that over 58,000 Victorians are living with hepatitis B, almost 20,000 of which do not know they have hepatitis B, increasing their risk of liver cancer.

Of those who have hepatitis B, 71.3 per cent are not linked to care, increasing their risk of a liver cancer diagnosis.

The prevalence of late diagnosis of viral hepatitis for people with liver cancer is high but most people who have received a late diagnosis have been accessing healthcare, presenting an opportunity to increase early detection. A study by the Doherty Institute found that of those who received a late diagnosis of viral hepatitis, 97 per cent had visited a GP during the decade before diagnosis, with a median of 24 visits.

By increasing the offering of hepatitis B testing for those at risk and linkage to care and treatment for those who need it, we can protect more Victorians with hepatitis B from a liver cancer diagnosis.

Healthcare professionals play a vital role in recommending hepatitis B testing to their patients and ensuring they receive appropriate treatment and care.

Help to increase early detection of hepatitis B in your community by discussing hepatitis B testing and treatment with your patients.

Some population groups are at greater risk of hepatitis B infection and should be encouraged to have a hepatitis B test.

In Victoria, over 95 per cent of hepatitis B attributable HCC were in people born overseas, often from countries where hepatitis B is endemic or without universal access to the vaccine.

Read the full list of priority populations for HBV testing

Both hepatitis B and liver cancer are usually asymptomatic until advanced stages, which means early detection through a blood test is crucial to save lives. Ensure that you are recommending hepatitis B testing for your patients who are at risk.

• Ask patients if they have had a blood test for hepatitis B.

• Where possible and appropriate, refer patients to pathology for a test.

Be mindful of the stigma and barriers which prevent people from participating in testing and care.

Some people living with hepatitis B can face stigma, which can influence everyday life as well as willingness to engage with medical professionals or disclose disease status.

Hepatitis B cannot be cured but it can be managed and treated to reduce the risk of liver damage and cancer.

If your patient has had a positive hepatitis B diagnosis, ask if they are receiving ongoing monitoring.

All patients living with hepatitis B need regular medical checkups, including a blood test and sometimes an ultrasound to check what the virus is doing in their bodies and monitor for signs of liver damage. There is no such thing as a “healthy carrier” of hepatitis B.

Some patients may need medication, and some patients may need to be referred for HCC surveillance.

Find out more about care and treatment pathways for hepatitis B

Help raise awareness about hepatitis B and its connection to liver cancer through your communication channels or social media using the suggested copy and tiles below. We really appreciate your support.

We have also developed messages in Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese if this is relevant to your community.

Key messages

• Hepatitis B is a virus that can affect your liver, and if left undetected and untreated can increase your risk of liver cancer.
• Hepatitis B can be detected through a simple blood test.
• Hepatitis B is passed through blood or sexual fluids from a person with hepatitis B.
• Most people will get it when they are a baby or a young child; especially people born in places where hepatitis B is common and/or where the hepatitis B vaccine is not available.
• Many people with hepatitis B do not have any symptoms, so it’s important to ask your doctor for a blood test to look for hepatitis B.
• Finding hepatitis B early could save your life.
• Ask your doctor for a blood test today.

Newsletter copy

Share the below newsletter copy to help increase awareness of hepatitis.

Headline: Finding hepatitis B early could save your life

Hepatitis B is a virus that can affect your liver, and if left undetected and untreated can increase your risk of liver cancer.

If found early, hepatitis B can be managed and treated before it can harm your liver. But new data from The Doherty Institute’s Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project has estimated that one in three Victorians living with hepatitis B are yet to be diagnosed, putting them at greater risk of liver cancer. 

People born in places where hepatitis B is common and/or without access to the vaccine, are at increased risk of getting hepatitis B.

Often, hepatitis B does not have any symptoms, so it’s important to ask your doctor for a blood test to see if you have the virus.

Finding hepatitis B early could save your life. If you think you might be at risk, ask your doctor for a blood test today.

Book in with the clinic by calling [Your clinic’s phone number].

If you have previously tested positive for hepatitis B, talk to your doctor about regular check-ups and if you may need treatment.

You can learn more about hepatitis B and its link to liver cancer on Cancer Council Victoria’s website.

Social media posts

References

1. MacLachlan JH, Romero N, Purcell I, Cowie BC. Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project: Hepatitis B National Report 2022. Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia: ASHM; 2024. https://ashm.org.au/vh-mapping...
2. Victorian Cancer Registry data explorer, www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/statistics/data-explorer