Bayer Partners with the American Liver Foundation to Spread Nationwide Awareness of Liver Cancer Risk Factors

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Sep 29, 2016, 08:51 ET

WHIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer and the American Liver Foundation (ALF) are partnering for the third year in a row to increase awareness of liver cancer and its risk factors through the Are You At Risk? campaign in honor of Liver Cancer Awareness Month this October. Are You At Risk? drives awareness to the risk factors associated with liver cancer with attention-grabbing signage, which direct the public to resources and information on liver cancer offered by the ALF.

Despite progress in research and the development of new treatments over the last several decades, liver cancer remains one of the few cancers still on the rise.^1,2 It is estimated that nearly 40,000 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in 2016.¹ Signs and symptoms of liver cancer often do not appear until the disease has advanced, making it crucial that patients understand the risks associated with liver cancer, like chronic viral hepatitis, heavy alcohol abuse, obesity, type 2 diabetes and anabolic steroid use.^1,3

"Are You At Risk? has educated the public about liver cancer and has been incredibly effective in activating people around the resources, advice and assistance we offer," said Thomas F. Nealon III, national board chair and chief executive officer of the American Liver Foundation. "For example, last year, one of our Helpline Specialists received a call from someone who had seen our Are You At Risk? ads each day going to work. This person had been living with the hepatitis C virus for several years, but did not know until seeing these ads that hepatitis is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer.¹"

In 2016, the campaign will be coming to major cities including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. Banners and billboards in those cities will direct people to more information about liver cancer, its risk factors and warning signs, and the importance of screenings of at risk populations and early detection. For more information about liver cancer and the Are You At Risk? campaign, visit the ALF website (www.liverfoundation.org/livercancer).

"Diagnosing liver cancer early is key, as a patient's chance of survival nearly doubles if the disease is caught early,¹" said Joseph Germino, MD, PhD, Bayer's vice president for Medical Affairs in Oncology. "Unfortunately, it is projected that 27,000 liver cancer patients will die this year.¹ Bayer is proud to support the ALF, which has been hard at work for the past 40 years for these patients. This year, we are looking toward a future where liver cancer patients are even better informed and have access to solutions across all stages of disease."

About Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer among men in the world and the second most common cause of death from cancer worldwide, accounting for more than 600,000 deaths each year.¹ HCC is the most common form of liver cancer, and is responsible for about 80 percent of the primary malignant liver tumors in adults.¹ It is estimated that more than 39,000 Americans will be diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016, and almost 27,000 will die from the disease.¹ It is often hard to find liver cancer early because signs and symptoms often do not appear until it is in its later stages.¹ Signs and symptoms of liver cancer include abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, among others.^1,3 Diagnosing liver cancer early is key as a patient's chance of survival nearly doubles if the disease is caught before it has begun to spread (or metastasize).¹

About the American Liver Foundation
Founded in 1976, the American Liver Foundation (ALF) is the nation's largest patient advocacy organization for people with liver disease. ALF reaches more than 1.5 million individuals each year with health information, education and support services via its national office, 17 U.S. divisions and an active online presence. Recognized as a trusted voice for liver disease patients, ALF also operates a national toll-free helpline (1-800-GO-LIVER), educates, patients, policymakers and the public, and provides grants to early-career researchers to help find a cure for all liver diseases. ALF is celebrating 40 years of turning patients into survivors. For more information about ALF, please visit www.liverfoundation.org.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.

About Oncology at Bayer
Bayer is committed to delivering science for a better life by advancing a portfolio of innovative treatments. The oncology franchise at Bayer now includes three oncology products and several other compounds in various stages of clinical development. Together, these products reflect the company's approach to research, which prioritizes targets and pathways with the potential to impact the way that cancer is treated.

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¹ American Cancer Society. Liver Cancer. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003114-pdf.pdf. Accessed on August 9, 2016.
² Centers Disease Control and Prevention. Liver Cancer. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/liver/. Accessed on August 9, 2016.
³American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures. 2016. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/document/acspc-047079.pdf. Accessed on August 9, 2016.

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