Hepatitis C Ttreatments?

My doctor wants me to do the standard combo treatments for Hep C But I'm somewhat apprehensive!, The side effects read like a rat poison label, i.e. Could cause cancer, diabetes (Which i'm border line now), Heart problems, anemia, mental problems, Suicide, Screw up your DNA, etc..., It sounds like the cure is worse than the disease!, And to top it off theirs only a 40 to 50% it will work!,( I'm geno type 1/ high viral load), This has been the ONLY treatment option for 10 years!, It seems they should of come up with a safer option by now?, Makes me wonder if the makers (Roche) have a Monopoly on it?, I'd like to hear from people who have done the treatments and their experiences, thoughts and advise?

Hepatitis C Ttreatments?
If you never try it, it will never work. You are really looking at the glass half empty. I did it 7 years ago, and cleared the virus. I have my energy back, and don't have to worry about cirrhosis or liver cancer. The pegylated interferon wasn't available 7 years ago; the side effects from the non-peg interferon were worse. I run a hep c support group, and have seen many people over the years have a sustained response (clear the virus). Overall, the success rate for genotype 1 is 50-57%. Pegasys (made by Roche)has a slightly higher response, and the people seem to have fewer side effects than on PegIntron (made by Schering-Plough). That's just a personal observation from the people in our support group(300+ members).


One thing I suggest: you have to have a good attitude before going into the chemo therapy like treatment. You might want to talk to more people who have done it and see what they did to improve their chances of staying on the medication long enough for it to work. I feel the mental preparation is at least half the battle. Our support group works hard to educate our members about the disease, the treatment, the side effects, %26amp; what they can do to deal with side effects. When you go into this battle knowing what you're up against, you are more likely to be able to deal with it. When you are able to deal with it, you are able to adhere to the treatment. Better adherance means you give the meds a chance to do it's job; clear the virus. Our support group also has a clinic that helps people without insurance get treatment. Both pharmaceutical companies have a patient assistance program and all but one person from our clinic have been given the medication for FREE (That's 51 out of 52 people who got their meds for free at a cost of $30,000 per person). So you see, while the medication is costly to those who are insured, they also have helped many people who would have never had a chance to get it. No, I don't work for the pharmaceutical company! But I am grateful for being a responder, and I'm also grateful for all our support group members who were given a chance to live a normal life, HCV free. Best wishes to you, whatever you decide to do.
Reply:You're not kidding, but I guess it's up to us to make some noise. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease! Report It

Reply:Not everyone is susceptible to the possible side effects. I know a number of people who have taken the Interferon injections and they believe they were infected for a very long period of time and their Hep C is undetectable today. The most common side effects they faced were depression and irritability. Two of the people I know are diabetics, not borderline and they took the treatments for 6 months and when they were finished their Hep C was undetectable and still is. My uncle has Hep C and same goes for him. He was a long time drug abuser and he feels that he was infected with Hep C for a very long period of time before he sought treatment and he is and has been freed from it which has been undetectable for quite a long time now.


I would seek out individuals who actually took the treatments and see what they say.


I hope all turns out well for you and as I have said I only know that the people I know have made it through and are better for it today. Best Wishes!

peony