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Can HEP C be cured permanently?

I recently had the test for HEP C and the result was positive. If my HEP C treatment gets successful, then will it allow me to live longer.
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683231 tn?1467323017
Yes hep c is now curable for most patients.

Generally if you don't have liver damage hep c likely would not have shortened your life. With cure you will live as long as you were already going to live.

If you do have mild liver damage with cure your liver injury will improve and likely extending your life thus reducing the odds you would die early from liver disease.
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I take exception to your assertion that "Generally if you don't have liver damage hep c likely would not have shortened your life".

My problem is first: how does someone know if they have liver damage? The liver biopsy is still the gold standard and most people don't find undergoing liver biopsy to be an enjoyable experience. And secondly how does someone know whether and when their liver might be undergoing damage? That entails a life long monitoring of their liver architecture which is a significant burden. Studies show that the risk and degree of liver injury from Hep C increases as the duration of infection increases. So the fact that one might not exhibit liver injury today doesn't guarantee that the liver won't suffer injury in the future.

{HCV Disease Burden
Deaths Related to Hepatitis C
Persons with HCV infection have all-cause mortality greater than twice that of HCV-negative persons.
In the United States, hepatitis C is the cause of death or contributing cause of death in
approximately 15,000 people per year. From 1997 to 2007, the number of annual deaths related to
hepatitis C increased substantially and in 2007, the number of deaths related to hepatitis C had
exceeded those related to HIV (
Figure 8
). A more recent study that analyzed HCV-related deaths in
the United States from 2003 to 2013 concluded the annual HCV-related deaths have continued to
increase since 2007, with an estimated 19,369 HCV-related deaths in 2013. Persons with chronic
hepatitis C infection have an estimated mortality rate 12 times higher than the general population.
In addition, the number of hepatitis C-related deaths are at least 8-fold greater than those related to
hepatitis B.  Investigators have identified factors associated with an increased risk of death in
persons with chronic hepatitis C infection: chronic liver disease, coinfection with hepatitis B virus,
alcohol-related conditions, minority status, and coinfection with HIV. Among the HCV-related deaths
in recent years, more than 70% have involved persons 45 to 64 years of age.}
See: http://www.hepatitisc.uw.edu
/pdf/screening-diagnosis/epidemiology-us/core-concept/all

With today's drugs the main obstacle to successful treatment is probably the financial burden. Hep C is not a disease anyone should opt to live with - barring some exceptional circumstance(s).  

I think it is incumbent upon us to advise people to see a qualified physician - preferably a hepatologist or, if one is not available, then a gastroenterologist.
Well I was just thinking if they were being monitored by a gastroenterologist of hepatologist and had had either Fibroscan or fibro sure testing to determine extent of damage. Certinally I would expect their doctor would evaluate the condition of their liver if for no other reason thsn to help the patient qualify for insurance coverage for treatment.

Per the AALSD  American Association for the study of liver diseases they say that a person with less than F2 fibrosi can return to living their life as if they were never infected. So no follow up testing needed.

The AASLD doES recommend that those with F3 or greater damage like myself with F4 cirrhosis diagnosed by liver biopsy 9.5 years ago I will need to continue to have ar minimum annual office visits with my hepatologist and blood testing every 6 months for liver function CBC and AFP along with abdominal ultrasound and annual upper endoscopy to  Monitor for a reoccurrence of esophageal varices I've had in the past.

Yes I do absolutely agree a patient needs to know the status of their liver. But those who have been told by their medical professional they have little to no damage and are cured of hep c can expect to live a normal life span and to die from something other than liver disease.

Even for me, now that I am cured of hep on my 5th treatment, can expect with care that I too expect to die from something other than my liver cirrhosis.

Have a good one
Just to add the OP asked "If my HEP C treatment gets successful, then will it allow me to live longer."

And my answer is whether or not he has liver damage being cured of hep c will assuredly allow him to live longer vs not treating and not curing his hep c.
Avatar universal
Can HEP C be cured permanently?  YES

I thing the odds are that eradicating the virus would afford you a healthier and longer life.

My advice is to consult with a knowledgeable physician about your treatment options and make and informed decision.

Good luck!
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