October marks Liver Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shed light on a disease that often goes unnoticed. This year, Belinda Whitlock feels particularly inspired to raise awareness. Here she shares her personal story and the numerous initiatives that she is undertaking to raise awareness of liver health and liver cancer.
The motivation behind my involvement in liver health awareness is deeply rooted in my own experiences. My journey began over 35 years ago when I lost my mother to liver cancer at the age of just 46 years old. As a teenager, I struggled to comprehend the gravity of her diagnosis. To me, it was just “cancer.” Tragically, she lived only three weeks after being diagnosed.
It wasn’t until years later that I began to question, “Why did my mum die of liver cancer? She didn’t even drink alcohol.” This realisation was fuelled by a common misconception: that liver cancer primarily affects those who consume alcohol excessively. Fast forward to June of this year when I received my own shocking diagnosis of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
I found myself echoing my mother’s experience, saying, “But I don’t drink alcohol.” This began my journey of discovery and reflection. Navigating my diagnosis has presented numerous challenges. I have had to seek care outside my local area to ensure I receive the right treatment. Along the way, I realised I couldn’t be the only one facing such hurdles. My experience has ignited a passion in me to raise awareness and provide a guiding light for others who may be struggling in silence.
Raising awareness
To start off the month, the North Lincolnshire council building where I work will be lit up green for two weeks. My building has never been lit up green for Liver Cancer, other colours for other cancers, but never for Liver. It’s just never been on anyone’s radar..until now!
Liver cancer is not one of the better-known cancers and there appears to be very little awareness. I want people to see it, to think about it and to have a conversation. To ask questions, learn, and consider how this may affect them.. Of course, I will also be thinking of my mum and how proud she would be!
On October 4th, Jessica from the British Liver Trust is delivering an online Liver Health Awareness webinar. I am hoping this will help break the stigma attached to liver cancer and liver disease, raise awareness, and educate people. which are all crucial in improving early diagnosis and saving lives. The more we talk about it, the more we can support one another and encourage those at risk to seek help.
Following the webinar, I am excited to host a liver scanning event at my workplace on October 8th. Inspired by a personal appointment at Hull University Teaching Hospital, where I discussed plans to illuminate my workplace in green for Liver Cancer Awareness Month, I realised I wanted to do more—something that would practically benefit people.
After discussing options with the Hepatology Department at the hospital, we quickly devised a plan to offer FibroScan appointments for staff. I reached out to several colleagues and teams internally to offer 38 FibroScan appointments for staff. Within a couple of hours of announcing the event, most slots were filled, and by the following day, they were all gone. I have secured a private room for the scans, and participants will be contacted for follow-up, as necessary.
Meet Bili-Rubin Bear
To further engage and educate, I came up with the idea of designing a bear named Bili-Rubin Bear. It’s a play on words as my name is often shortened to ‘Billie’ and we lost a much-loved dog named Reuben and Bilirubin is a blood test to assess liver health.”
My sister helped bring the bear to life over a weekend. I plan to either raffle him off to raise funds for the British Liver Trust or use him as a mascot of our efforts.
Who doesn’t love a bear!
Future plans for awareness
I am working with the Hull University Teaching Hospital Liver Nurses (again) who have agreed to come over to North Lincolnshire and this time offer FibroScans to members of the public. It will be an open event for anyone to come along and have a scan. Jessica Barnes from the British Liver Trust has kindly agreed to come and support this event scheduled for 31st of January – we wanted to do this during ‘Love Your Liver’ month, but this is not a British Liver Trust ‘Love Your Liver’ event. More details to follow but it will be happening! The Public Health team are also on-board and is something that will hopefully grow and develop into so much more in the future – watch this space.