#RARELIVERDISEASES MUST NOT BE LEFT BEHIND IN EUROPE’S CANCER AND TRANSPLANTATION AGENDA. 🇪🇺🎗️ OCTOBER | #LiverCancerAwarenessMonth RARE LIVER DISEASES MUST NOT BE LEFT BEHIND IN EUROPE’S CANCER AND TRANSPLANTATION AGENDA. Rare does not mean less important. And rare liver diseases do not exist in isolation. Primary Biliary Cholangitis (#PBC), Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (#PSC), Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson’s disease, haemochromatosis, biliary atresia and other rare liver conditions can lead to serious complications, including cirrhosis, liver cancer and the need for liver transplantation. The risks differ between diseases. PSC is particularly associated with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), while advanced liver disease caused by PBC, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and certain other conditions can increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. 💚 EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TIMELY TREATMENT ARE ALSO CANCER PREVENTION AND TRANSPLANTATION PREVENTION. By identifying rare liver diseases earlier, ensuring access to effective treatments and providing appropriate long-term monitoring, we can reduce preventable complications, improve quality of life and, for some patients, reduce the risk of liver cancer and the need for transplantation. 🇪🇺 EUROPE MUST CONNECT THE DOTS. The future EU Action Plan for Rare Diseases, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EU4Health and European transplantation policies should not operate in separate silos. Rare diseases, cancer prevention and transplantation are interconnected healthcare priorities. We need a coordinated European approach that: 🔸 Recognises rare liver diseases within cancer prevention and transplantation strategies. 🔸 Strengthens early diagnosis, specialised care and access to innovative treatments. 🔸 Connects rare disease expertise with cancer surveillance and transplant services. 🔸 Reduces inequalities between countries and ensures equitable access to care. 🔸 Places patients and their quality of life at the centre of European health policy. A rare disease diagnosis should not become a late cancer diagnosis or an avoidable liver transplantation because opportunities for earlier intervention were missed. This October, through the European Liver Screening Tour and European Liver Screening Week, ELPA calls for stronger connections between rare diseases, liver cancer prevention and transplantation. 🇪🇺 ONE EUROPE. CONNECTED HEALTH POLICIES. EQUITABLE CARE. NO PATIENT LEFT BEHIND. 🎗️ #LiverCancerAwarenessMonth 🇪🇺 #EuropeanLiverScreeningTour #EUScreeningWeek #RareLiverDiseases #PBC #PSC #Alpha1AntitrypsinDeficiency #AutoimmuneHepatitis #LiverCancer #LiverTransplantation #EURareDiseases #EUCancerPlan #EU4Health #EuropeanHealthUnion #EarlyDiagnosis #camilosifuentes @OliverVarhelyi @hans_kluge