Aa
is it worth it?
i was recently diagnosied with hepatitis. i have had a catscan, a liver biopsy and now my doctor tells me I should start my medication now. the problem is, yes i unfortuantly have been experincing symptoms and have felt in pain. the mediccation sound to me to cause MORE pain and also mental problems. not to mention how RIBOFLAVIN has been proven to cause cancer, birth defects and can mess with you DNA i read. will i be exposing myself to somthing worse then what i hve now by taking these medications? exp. cancer. i have a one year old baby i take care of everyday by myself, will this medication prevent me from being able to take care of my son? i have very honestly and open- mindedly been weighing the pros and cons of taking the midication, and soo far i see alot of cons. should i take the medicaine that could eventualy cause more serious problems for me?
the last two times I looked at the INF pamphlets or at online side-effects for INF, Lymphoma was still listed as one of the potential and serious side effects.
Because INF is a products of our lymphatic system normally it's presence is not the culprit so much as the overabundance of the product is.
Basically the spleen and lymph glands have to deal with all this extra product and remain in a high gear or excited state during tx... and this can stress out the whole system and does lead to an increased risk of lymphoma.
Not a greatly increased risk mind you, but a risk nonetheless sufficient to be mentioned in the warning labels along with Diebetes and some other troubling possibilities
.
And, last time I looked lymphoma was still called cancer. Cancer of the lymph nodes to be precise.
mb
Because INF is a products of our lymphatic system normally it's presence is not the culprit so much as the overabundance of the product is.
Basically the spleen and lymph glands have to deal with all this extra product and remain in a high gear or excited state during tx... and this can stress out the whole system and does lead to an increased risk of lymphoma.
Not a greatly increased risk mind you, but a risk nonetheless sufficient to be mentioned in the warning labels along with Diebetes and some other troubling possibilities
.
And, last time I looked lymphoma was still called cancer. Cancer of the lymph nodes to be precise.
mb
Just to clarify. Having a child to take care of definately makes a decision much harder. Most Hepatologist will tell you to wait for the new drugs if your biopsy showed a stage 2-3 or less. It is hard to get an exact stage with the middle stages but they can tell if it closer to a 3 then stage 4. If stage 3-4 then I would treat now and it would give your liver a much needed break. If less then 3 then I would wait for the new drugs and take care of your child. Before making any decision get the opinion of a Hepatologist.
people in their child bearing years usually tolerate treatment a lot better than older people (who are disproportionately represented in this forum) do.
Ergo being younger means you could be one of many who get through tx without too many complications.
Might it make caring for your young one more difficult. Yes. You will need more rest, and to practice more patience, and to try to involve as many friends and family as you can to pitch in. Even if you can get someone to watch your child a couple evenings a week, just so you can go to bed early and get in a good 10-12 hr nights sleep will help immensely.
If you can treat however, I think it's totally worth it...long term picture=you get to watch your kids grow up, and meet your grandkids even. Plus you don't have to worry about your children contracting this from you then, plus you won't burden them with watching you deteriorate from this illness. Many more good reasons also exist.
One thing you must resolve is that getting pregnant during or for 6 months post treatment is not an option. This virus attacks the cells by directly invading the DNA withing each cell. So the virus itself harms DNA. Some of the drugs used to treat work by getting down on that level, and interferring with he transcription phase of the virons replication. (that's when the viron tries to rewrite itself the drug confuses it, and it will make a mutant and weaker copy of itself as a result.
Does that also effect the healthy cells, yes it can, and does alter the ratio of mitochondrial to regular DNA/RNA....but not so much that your cells stop replicating ok..you still are you...and most folks ssurvive the treatment fine. This is not however the case for a developing fetus whose cells are only just learning to specialize, so in order to avoid any cell confusion waiting until these drugs all clear the system is a must do.
Is it worth it? Absolutely if it means you can be a healthy mommy with no major health issues for the foreseeable future. Look at it through your child's eyes....you've already bonded with your child...if you are more tired cranky or depressed, will your child still love you? Yes..in fact they remember little of their first 3 years, if anything.
Could it make it harder for you to care for the child, yes, but that's why they have antidepressants, and support systems for people...use them!
mb
Ergo being younger means you could be one of many who get through tx without too many complications.
Might it make caring for your young one more difficult. Yes. You will need more rest, and to practice more patience, and to try to involve as many friends and family as you can to pitch in. Even if you can get someone to watch your child a couple evenings a week, just so you can go to bed early and get in a good 10-12 hr nights sleep will help immensely.
If you can treat however, I think it's totally worth it...long term picture=you get to watch your kids grow up, and meet your grandkids even. Plus you don't have to worry about your children contracting this from you then, plus you won't burden them with watching you deteriorate from this illness. Many more good reasons also exist.
One thing you must resolve is that getting pregnant during or for 6 months post treatment is not an option. This virus attacks the cells by directly invading the DNA withing each cell. So the virus itself harms DNA. Some of the drugs used to treat work by getting down on that level, and interferring with he transcription phase of the virons replication. (that's when the viron tries to rewrite itself the drug confuses it, and it will make a mutant and weaker copy of itself as a result.
Does that also effect the healthy cells, yes it can, and does alter the ratio of mitochondrial to regular DNA/RNA....but not so much that your cells stop replicating ok..you still are you...and most folks ssurvive the treatment fine. This is not however the case for a developing fetus whose cells are only just learning to specialize, so in order to avoid any cell confusion waiting until these drugs all clear the system is a must do.
Is it worth it? Absolutely if it means you can be a healthy mommy with no major health issues for the foreseeable future. Look at it through your child's eyes....you've already bonded with your child...if you are more tired cranky or depressed, will your child still love you? Yes..in fact they remember little of their first 3 years, if anything.
Could it make it harder for you to care for the child, yes, but that's why they have antidepressants, and support systems for people...use them!
mb
Treatment isn't a cake walk, but then neither are the ongoing symptoms of chronic hep c, or the potential dangers.
I think it is worth it. Its hard - like anything else worth having, you have to really want SVR.
My biopsy showed stage 2-3 and my doctor told me I should treat right away. I think if you are at that point its really to late to just wait.
Speak to your doctor, get a second opinion, and ask all your questions. You will find the way forward. Good luck.
jd
My biopsy showed stage 2-3 and my doctor told me I should treat right away. I think if you are at that point its really to late to just wait.
Speak to your doctor, get a second opinion, and ask all your questions. You will find the way forward. Good luck.
jd
great advice from the oithers.
You ask if treatment is worth it? The answer is yes. True, there are many side effects from the treatment drugs and if you read the warnings it would scare the heck out of you. But like any other drug there are risks. And in this instance the benefit outweighs the risk by far.
Don't forget to get a 2nd opinion from a hepatologist (liver specialist) if possible. Also if the liver biopsy showed stage 2-3 or less then you may have time to wait for the new drugs which may allow you to treat for 6 months instead of a year if a genotype 1. That is a big difference with the time the body is exposed to the drugs.
Just remember there are far worse diseases you could have got. At least with HCV you have a chance of cure.
Best of luck to you.
You ask if treatment is worth it? The answer is yes. True, there are many side effects from the treatment drugs and if you read the warnings it would scare the heck out of you. But like any other drug there are risks. And in this instance the benefit outweighs the risk by far.
Don't forget to get a 2nd opinion from a hepatologist (liver specialist) if possible. Also if the liver biopsy showed stage 2-3 or less then you may have time to wait for the new drugs which may allow you to treat for 6 months instead of a year if a genotype 1. That is a big difference with the time the body is exposed to the drugs.
Just remember there are far worse diseases you could have got. At least with HCV you have a chance of cure.
Best of luck to you.
I've never seen cancer as a side effect for the meds. In fact treatment will protect you from liver cancer later. Ribavirin does cause birth defects and you have to promise not to get pregnant for 6 months after treatment is over. Treating now or later depends on the biopsy results. If you came out stage 3 or 4 for fibrosis, you run the risk of liver cancer, which occassionally can just be scooped out, or more commonly, kills you. If you had stage 4 on the biopsy, you are at the end of the road for liver function and at some point your liver will stop working altogether, with a very miserable journey in store.
What's it worth to watch your child grow up? Dicuss your biopsy results with your doctor and explain your fears. He'll help you make a decision about when to start treatment that fits in with your life right now. Everyone is afraid when they read the medication side effects information, but the extra scarey stuff rarely happens. They are required to put all of it on the lable and it does not mean it will happen to you. Good luck.
What's it worth to watch your child grow up? Dicuss your biopsy results with your doctor and explain your fears. He'll help you make a decision about when to start treatment that fits in with your life right now. Everyone is afraid when they read the medication side effects information, but the extra scarey stuff rarely happens. They are required to put all of it on the lable and it does not mean it will happen to you. Good luck.
Besides I am sure your doctor will take good care of you and take you off treatment if things get too bad. There is no harm in trying. Best of luck =)
Since you have a son its just more reasons to take the treatment, so you wont leave him early...
Hepatitis C is a progressive disease.If you don't beat it it slowly gets worse.
As you have had a liver biopsy your doctors advice is based on good information.
Your concerns about treatment are not well researched.You have many of the words and risks factors wrong.Treatment does not cause cancer (quite the opposite) and does not 'mess with your DNA'
It does make you tired and may make it difficult to look after your son.
Your decision should be based on your biopsy result which you have not given.
As you have had a liver biopsy your doctors advice is based on good information.
Your concerns about treatment are not well researched.You have many of the words and risks factors wrong.Treatment does not cause cancer (quite the opposite) and does not 'mess with your DNA'
It does make you tired and may make it difficult to look after your son.
Your decision should be based on your biopsy result which you have not given.
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