To arrest the number, doctors at the National Cancer Centre of Singapore (NCCS) want to make six-monthly screening for hepatitis B a regular practice among the high risk group.

The screening includes blood test and ultrasound scan of the liver.

The centre is currently reviewing the cancer guidelines to include regular screening as a preventive measure.

Long term hepatitis B infection is known to cause liver cancer in Singapore. An estimated 1 in 35 adult Singaporeans is a Hepatitis B carriers.

The virus is spread by blood or body fluids of an infected person.

Hepatitis B increases the risk of liver cancer by 300 times and is estimated to have caused 60 to 80 per cent of primary liver cancers worldwide.

Liver cancer resulting from Hepatitis B infection is preventable with immunisation.

To raise awareness of the disease among the public as well as General Practitioners, NCCS will be making September Liver Cancer Awareness Month.

The campaign's chairman, Professor London Ooi, said: 'Often when patients seek treatment for liver cancer, it is almost always at a late stage. Although liver cancer is fatal, there is potential cure if the patient go for screening and it is detected early.'

Public forums in English and Mandarin will be held on Sept 6; while those for medical professionals will be held on Sept 20 and 27.