Liver screening roadshow to visit Derry to find people unaware of liver damage

A mobile liver screening roadshow will make its way to Guildhall Square on Thursday 19 September which will allow people in Derry to have their liver checked for free.

People are being encouraged to visit the mobile unit and be checked for potential liver disease. The British Liver Trust has warned that one in ten adults in Derry may be unknowingly walking around with liver disease as there are usually no symptoms in the early stages. 

This mobile liver screening roadshow will offer people a free liver scan which involves using a non-invasive device. There will also be expert guidance on preventative measures you can take in order to keep your liver healthy. 

Nine in ten cases of liver disease are preventable with the main causes being obesity, alcohol and viral hepatitis.

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Chief Executive of British Liver Trust, Pamela Healy, said "One in three of us are at risk of liver disease and the numbers of people being diagnosed have been increasing at an alarming rate.  Liver damage develops silently with no signs or symptoms and people often don’t realise they have a problem until it is too late. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left until symptoms appear, the damage is often irreversible."

She added that: "The Love Your Liver roadshow is a great opportunity for people to find out their risk of liver disease. Approximately 10% of the people we scan need to have further checks."

The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three simple steps you can take to keep your liver healthy: 

1.    Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off from alcohol every week 

2.    Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and do more exercise 

3.    Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk 

The roadshow will also be travelling to Belfast and Enniskillen. On Monday 16 September, the mobile unit will be outside City Hall at Donegal Square in Belfast. Then on Wednesday 18 September, the roadshow will arrive at Wellington Road Car Park in Enniskillen. 

If you can’t attend any of these events, you can still find out if you are at risk and check your liver health online by doing an online screening test.