Canadian Liver Foundation
#100 - 3100 Steeles Ave E L3R 8T3 Markham, ON, Canada

NEW BLOG: Meet the 2021-2022 CASL-CLF Clinical Hepatology Fellows http://bit.ly/2ZRw2Un

READ: recent CBC News article featuring work of our partner, Saskatchewan Infectious Disease Network - Saskatchewan's hepatitis C testing rates drop amid global pandemic http://bit.ly/2NIx3em.

EVENT: Monday, February 23 - COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A, presented by Ajmera Transplant Centre at UHN. Transplant patients, those on the transplant waitlist, and their families the chance to ask experts questions about vaccines and more http://bit.ly/37vDrN6

Your liver cleanses your blood, regulates your body’s energy supply, creates many of your essential proteins, regulates your hormone balance, cholesterol and supply of vitamins and minerals, and produces bile to help your body digest and eliminate toxins.

Your liver can only process a certain amount of alcohol at a time. Give your liver a chance to do its job by limiting your alcohol consumption to no more than 2 drinks/day for women, and 3 drinks/day for men.

This year, Giving Tuesday is a day to give in honour of everything we’ve faced together. It’s also a day to give in honour of everything we have to look forward to. And because a generous donor has offered to match every gift we receive next week on Giving Tuesday, your donation will make sure that 2021 is a year of more support and more breakthroughs in the search for cures. So mark next Tuesday, December 1st on your calendar, and subscribe now to our email list to gain access next week to our Giving Tuesday donation form to ensure your gift has twice the impact: https://bit.ly/3l2NT2w

Did you know? If fat builds up to more than 5% of the liver, then the liver is considered to be a fatty liver. Although having this condition may not cause any immediate harm, there is a concern that extra fat in the liver might make the liver vulnerable to further injury such as inflammation and scarring.

Is there anything better than an easy, healthy slow cooker recipe when the days are shorter and cooler? Warm up with these recipes on our blog, from a Banana Nut Oatmeal to a Turkey Chili.

It's important to remember that basic liver tests are not part of annual check-ups requested by your family doctor, so many family doctors do not typically run these tests unless they suspect a possible liver issue. Obvious signs or symptoms may only develop when liver disease has already progressed to a severe stage, so it is important for everyone to learn more about the risk factors and symptoms of liver disease and then use this information to engage in liver-healthy discussions with your doctor during your check-up. Learn more on our website: http://ow.ly/jgq450ClXOc

Did you know? Cirrhosis is a condition (not a disease) that results from permanent damage or scarring of the liver. This leads to a blockage of blood flow through the liver and prevents normal metabolic and regulatory processes.

If you're stepping into a care role for someone living with liver disease diagnosis, our website can be an excellent source of resources and information. Today, we're sharing some tips emotional, everyday, financial and medical tips on our website: http://ow.ly/yknT50ClXig

The Centre for Living Organ Donation at UHN presented a webinar earlier this year on Living Liver donation & Transplantation. Watch now in case you missed it:

Today, we remember and honour those who have served and continue to serve our country. #RemembranceDay #LestWeForget

Today is the first day of the Patient, Family and Donor Research Forum. cohosted by the Canadian Liver Foundation and the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program (CDTRP) in cooperation with the Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative and the Canadian Society of Transplantation This online conference is dedicated to donation and transplantation research partners across Canada and runs today and tomorrow. This valuable educational opportunity is available to everyone in our liver transplant community. Register now at https://cdtrp.ca/en/events/pfdrf/

Albertans, there are only 10 days left until "Ballgowns and Balconies: A Socially Distanced Ball." Have you purchased your tickets for the Air Canada Raffle yet? Or bid on any of the amazing prizes in our silent auction? Time is running out, and you do not want to miss these fun ways to support the CLF and get geared up for our big event! Visit https://trellis.org/liveright-gala-2020 right now to get in on the fun or call our Calgary office at 403-276-3390 to book your room for the gala!

Did you know? Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease in Canada, affecting more than 7 million people. #liverdisease

Our Peer Support Network is a national network of people who are themselves living with liver disease and have offered to share their experiences with others. It was developed to connect Canadians like you those who have family members with liver disease or who have recently been diagnosed themselves. It can really help to talk about your concerns with someone who understands your situation first hand. To learn more about this program, visit our website: http://ow.ly/R9UZ50BSNNC

Our next Living with Liver Disease session is scheduled for Monday, November 2 at 6:30pm ET where we'll be featuring a cooking demonstration and recipe share. Learn more and register now: https://fb.me/e/61C0XFw6S

Have you been putting off screenings for liver cancer or paused treatment? Or maybe you’re one of the 54% of Canadians who’ve had their cancer care treatments postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19. Today, we’re excited to partner with other leading organizations to launch #NewNormalSameCancer, a campaign to raise awareness of this issue and the need for people to get back to cancer care. COVID-19 has caused worldwide disruptions to liver cancer care. Cancer diagnoses globall...y have fallen by approximately 40% in 2020. But cancer doesn’t wait, even during a pandemic. While we navigate the new normal, it’s important to return to regular cancer care. Don’t wait. Contact your healthcare team. Get checked. #livercancer

Visiting your doctor soon? Whether you're living with liver disease or not, you might like to use this helpful guide to help steer your appointment and make sure your needs and concerns are addressed. http://ow.ly/PwX150BRAEQ

We've shared this before, but it's always good to bring it back once in a while as a reminder. If you're a caregiver to someone living with liver disease, check out these "8 Essential Caregiver Coping Strategies:"

Did you know that liver disease can cause symptoms similar to dementia and Alzheimer's? When your liver starts to fail, toxins can build up into your brain causing a condition that resembles dementia called hepatic encephalopathy (HE). HE is the deterioration in brain function observed in people with acute liver failure or chronic liver disease. HE symptoms include trouble sleeping at night, difficulty thinking clearly, poor concentration, anxiety, mental fogginess, etc. Learn more at http://ow.ly/ODaY50BVLaX

Today, we're giving thanks for our amazing community, our supporters, and for all of those joining us in our work to create a world without liver disease. We hope that despite these unusual times, you find some time to celebrate your loved ones and all we have to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Canadian Liver Foundation!

Temperatures are dropping, and, in most of the country, the impact of COVID-19 is still prevalent. During these times, most of us are continuing to stay indoors, keep our social circles small, and find ways to pass the time at home. Circumstances like these can lend themselves to higher levels of alcohol consumption; as we reported back in March, a study commissioned by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction found that approximately half of respondents said that ...they were drinking more because of the change in their daily schedules (51%) and because of boredom (49%), both caused by COVID-19. Earlier this year, we shared tips for managing your alcohol consumption and looking after your liver health. If you find yourself in need of some additional help, you can always call our National Help Line at 1-800-563-5483. http://ow.ly/RySb50BVL4s

It's Friday night - the perfect excuse to have a pizza party. While we continue to spend more time indoors and close to home due to COVID-19, we're taking the extra time on our hands to make homemade pizza. This recipe from Chef Dany Duguay is both nutritious and tasty, making it a perfect liver-friendly dinner the whole family can enjoy. http://ow.ly/pBNu50BK6d5

Hepatitis C is NOT passed from person to person by: coughing, sneezing; touching or shaking hands with an infected person; sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils; ... using toilet seats; hugging or kissing; other casual contact Click here to take the hepatitis C Risk Assessment Quiz: http://ow.ly/xGHU50BK5UI

The Canadian Liver Foundation is proud to partner with The Centre for Living Organ Donation at UHN in hosting a "Healthy Eating for the Liver" webinar tomorrow at 12pm EDT. The session features Dr. Diana Mager who is very well-known for her study of nutrition as it relates to liver health and who also serves as the chairperson of the CLF's Educational Advisory Committee. The event is free to all, but registration is required for the live event. Click the link for more information and to register right away: http://ow.ly/N7jE50BMtK1

Did you attend our LIVERight Health Forum? If so, we'd love to hear your feedback! Take our survey now: http://ow.ly/8SZh50BK5sZ

It's Mental Illness Awareness Week, and we're taking a stand on mental health. Why? Here are 5 reasons. Read them, and then join us in signing the petition today. 1 in 4 Canadians are affected by liver disease while 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness in any given year. That means that, inevitably, many Canadians are dealing with both. Living with a liver disease can be really difficult. Some people are dealing with chronic... pain, which may lead to depression. Others may have heightened anxiety as they wait for a transplant or diagnosis. Still others may struggle with the shame they feel because of the stigma that often comes with a liver disease diagnosis. Just like living with a liver disease, it can be stigmatizing to live with a mental illness. Mental illness is what we sometimes call a social determinant of health. This means somebody who is already dealing with a mental illness will likely face additional barriers when trying to access liver disease prevention, treatment, and support. In Canada, mental health does not receive the same amount of attention or funding as physical health. http://ow.ly/ToCE50BK5hB

The Canadian Liver Foundation (CLF) celebrates the conferral of the Nobel Prize in Medicine to Drs. Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice for the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus. This prestigious recognition is very well deserved, and the awareness it brings to the issue of liver research and care is sorely needed. Hepatitis C is common worldwide, with an estimated 250,000 Canadians living with it currently. Today’s Nobel Prize recognition marks a key mome...nt in the conversation around Hepatitis C and liver disease. It is a strong statement on the importance of investing in research and care and reminds us of just how common Hepatitis and other liver diseases really are. Even with vital contributions as was recognized by the Nobel committee yesterday, we know that there is much work that lies ahead as we create a world without liver disease. Image Source: NobelPrize.org

Our research partner, CDTRP - Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program in cooperation with the Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative and the Canadian Society of Transplantation, is running an online conference: the Patient, Family and Donor Research Forum dedicated to donation and transplantation research partners across Canada on October 15 and 16, 2020. Register by October 9th for this valuable educational opportunity with our liver transplant community by visiting their website, where you can also find the complete schedule: https://cdtrp.ca/en/events/pfdrf/

The next Living With Liver Disease virtual session is happening Monday, October 5 at 6:30pm ET. Learn more about this event and register now: https://fb.me/e/1w60aQnne