Taiwan's 'Have You Checked This Year?' campaign offers free liver screenings in Miaoli

In Miaoli County, Taiwan, the Hepatitis Prevention and Treatment Foundation hosted a "Have You Checked This Year?" event on August 1, offering free comprehensive liver health screenings. The initiative targeted individuals over 30, providing blood tests for liver disease, cancer markers, abdominal ultrasounds, and alcohol metabolism gene testing. This effort aims to underscore the importance of early detection and treatment in combating liver cancer, which remains a significant health concern in Taiwan.

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The liver is known as a silent organ, often showing no obvious symptoms in its early stages. By the time it's discovered, the best treatment window may have been missed, making regular screenings particularly important.

Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Taiwan for 43 consecutive years, with hepatitis B and C being primary drivers of chronic liver disease and liver cancer. In Miaoli County, the standardized mortality rate for liver cancer was 15.9 per 100,000 people in 2023. "The liver is known as a silent organ," noted the article, highlighting that symptoms often appear only when the disease has progressed, making regular screenings crucial. Approximately 600 individuals received blood tests, while 200 pre-registered participants underwent ultrasounds and genetic testing, all free of charge.

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Abdominal ultrasound is painless, radiation-free, and can effectively discover liver lesions, making it one of the most important tools for screening liver cancer.

Dr. Liu Pan-fu, executive director of the foundation's screening program, emphasized the benefits of abdominal ultrasounds, describing them as painless, radiation-free, and effective in detecting liver lesions. He stated that the "Have You Checked This Year?" campaign continues to promote health management awareness and encourage proactive screening. The Miaoli County Health Bureau assured that individuals with abnormal results would receive full support for referral to specialized medical facilities for further evaluation and treatment.

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Many liver disease patients delay seeking medical attention due to a lack of symptoms. Therefore, the foundation continues to promote the 'Have You Checked This Year?' campaign, hoping to enhance public health management awareness and encourage individuals to undergo screening for early detection and treatment.