ALF Honors National Liver Awareness & Liver Cancer Month

Take ALF’s Liver Health Quiz, Learn About Living Donor Liver Transplant, Try a Liver Healthy Recipe, and Advocate for Liver Health

An estimated 80 to 100 million Americans have liver disease, but many don’t know it because early symptoms can be subtle. October is National Liver Awareness Month and Liver Cancer Month and American Liver Foundation (ALF) is raising awareness and connecting people with vital resources. Take ALF’s one-minute quiz to understand your risk for liver disease, liver cancer or both. Learn more about living donor liver transplant by visiting ALF’s Living Donor Network™ website or watch our short-animated video and share it on your social channels. Try one of ALF’s recipes in our 30-day Liver Healthy Meal Plan and view 20 new recipe videos. Advocate for legislation that can improve the lives of people affected by liver disease and participate in free educational and community events held throughout the month.

“October’s observance of National Liver Awareness Month and Liver Cancer Awareness Month is a vital opportunity to remind everyone that liver health deserves year-round attention,” said Lorraine Stiehl, CEO of American Liver Foundation and a caregiver for a transplant recipient.  “By increasing awareness of risk factors, encouraging timely screenings and early detection through ALF’s quick liver health quiz, sharing ALF’s 30-day Liver Healthy Meal Plan, and connecting patients and families with trusted information and support, we can all help save lives and move closer to a future free from liver disease.”

Take the Quiz!

• Through ALF’s simple liver health quiz, available in English at thinkliverthinklife.org/quiz and in Spanish at thinkliverthinklife.org/prueba anyone can find out if they’re at risk for liver disease and liver cancer. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (liver cancer) is one of the most rapidly growing causes of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. with incidence rates that have more than tripled since 1980 and death rates doubled during that same time. Learn more about ALF’s thinkliverthinklife.org, a nationwide public health initiative raising awareness and screening U.S. adults for liver disease.

Try the Recipes!                                                                               

• Through ALF’s 30-day Liver Healthy Meal Plan, anyone can learn what to eat to help take care of their liver. The recipes are easy to make, simple to understand, and do not require complex ingredients. You can also watch 20 new recipe videos for additional inspiration.

Advocate with Us!

• Throughout October, we’re asking the liver community to elevate the voices of millions of Americans affected by liver disease by sending messages to Members of  Congress and asking them to advance policies that can improve their lives. ALF advocates are working to protect and support living organ donors, improve access to treatment, advance early detection of pediatric liver cancer, strengthen federal liver disease prevention and surveillance efforts, and increase investment in liver disease research. Join us and Take Action.

Join ALF Support Services, Participate in ALF Special Events and Learn more about ALF Programming!

• Join one of American Liver Foundation’s online support groups for caregivers, patients, and transplant recipients! Sharing the Journey, an ALF support network for caregivers - American Liver Foundation; Sharing the Journey, an ALF support network for patients - American Liver Foundation; orSharing the Journey, an ALF support network for liver transplant recipients. All sessions are facilitated by a licensed social worker. You must be aged 18 or older to participate. There is no fee to join.
• Join Liver Life Walk, Your Way and walk any day, anywhere, your way! Register today at liverlifewalk.org/virtualwalk.
• Learn more about ALF’s Living Donor Network™ that connects non-directed (anonymous) living liver donors with transplant centers nationwide, helping more people have access to a lifesaving liver transplant. To learn more about the Network, please watch ALF’s short-animated video.
• October 14 (virtual workshop) –  On HRS Awareness Day, watch our on-demand webinar on ALF’s social media channels, HRS-AKI Explained: What It Means for Patients, as Justin Boike, MD, from Northwestern Medicine, provides an overview of hepatorenal syndrome – acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) from a patient-centered perspective. Topics include what HRS-AKI is, what a diagnosis can mean for patients’ long-term, signs and risk factors patients should be aware of, and how to ask questions and advocate for themselves throughout their liver disease journey. This workshop is sponsored by Keenova.

• American Liver Foundation will host a two-day MASH Empower & Educate Summit on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17 aimed at empowering MASH patients and caregivers through education, storytelling, and media training. The Summit seeks to amplify patient voices and raise national awareness of liver disease. Follow ALF’s socials to see exciting updates from the event.
• Knowledge is power so empower yourself throughout your liver journey by viewing ALF’s new Patient Empowerment Resource Center filled with in-depth information on liver disease and watch this short video to learn more about maintaining optimal liver health.
• Join us on October 28th at 6:50PM ET for ALF’s50^th Anniversary National Legacy Gala held at Gotham Hall in New York City. We’ll celebratethe achievements of distinguished leaders and visionaries who have made significant contributions in the liver community. Participate in ALF’s silent auction and view the free live stream, LegacyGala26.givesmart.com. Purchase sponsorships or tickets and learn more about the Gala at alfgala.org.

ALF also offers Free Education for Healthcare Professionals!

• October 1 (virtual workshop) – Critical Care Roundtable: Advancing Multidisciplinary Care in End-Stage Liver Disease. This roundtable will bring together clinical leaders for a focused discussion on advancing multidisciplinary care for patients with End-Stage Liver Disease. Real-world challenges will be explored with opportunities to strengthen collaboration, care coordination, communication, and patient-centered decision-making across the liver disease continuum. These insights will help inform future educational initiatives and resources to support improved care for patients and families. This critical care initiative is sponsored by Keenova.
• October 6 - (virtual CME Program) - Liver Health Echo Program - Cracking the MASLD Risk Code: Detecting Early Risk Signals to Guide Timely Intervention. This noon to 1 p.m. virtual community practice equips healthcare providers with the necessary skills to treat and prevent MASLD among their patients. The program includes five one-hour sessions starting in October until February 2027. Register here.
• October 23 (virtual workshop) - Addressing Fatigue in Liver Diseases – From Unmet Needs to Action. This workshop will help develop a focused, fundable roadmap to improve understanding, assessment, and management of fatigue in liver diseases. This virtual workshop will include clinicians/researchers who are experts in liver diseases, fatigue measurement and patient-reported outcomes experts, and cross-disease fatigue.

American Liver Foundation gratefully acknowledges our Think Liver Think Life® Premier Sponsor, Astra Zeneca, for their continued leadership and support in helping us reach those most in need in underserved communities. ALF also expresses gratitude to the following additional Think Liver Think Life campaign sponsors that support our impactful educational and awareness resources which help patients, families and healthcare professionals nationwide: Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Gilead, Ipsen, Keenova, Madrigal, Merck and My Fitness Pal.

For more information about ALF, please visit www.liverfoundation.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding liver disease, please call our FREE helpline at 1-800-GO-LIVER (800-465-4837) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.