What if i decide against treatment

[annidote]

What if i decide against treatment for Hep C Type 1a. I am 55 yrs old and have had Hep C for 23 years and am afraid of doing treatment for this. What are the risks?

[Aquisi]

"My AD & Anxiety meds do work and haven't changed in 10 years"

Can you share the AD's your taking? Just want a feel of what others are taking. My Doc wants me to start on them a month in advance of treatment, I voluntarily stopped Pegasys/ribo in 03 because of depression, back then I felt like not having mind altering substances in me. That's all changed now, I'll do whatever it takes to go on with tx.

[Vannh9]

I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago and I have gone from being very sad...to pretty mad...to creating an action plan to rid myself of this disease.

I am a 53 year old professional single Mom and have always been very active. I had minor surgery 9 months ago and keep feeling like I hadn't fully recovered. I was SO tired all the time. I would work and come home and fall into bed...even friends asked "are you OK".  I had lab work done and found that the AST/ALT were elevated. (they had been elevated for at least 3 years) I didn't know this was a potential indicator for Hep C and other liver issues. I was ultimatley diagnosed  and they believe I have had the disease for 25-35 years. I am Stage 2 / Grade 2-3. I am not only tired, but I have horrible digestions issues..I won't share all the details:-)

I did a ton of research to get me to where I am today. I will start treatment in 3 weeks with VIC. I applaud anyone that is doing trials! I don't think it has to be a last resort if you do your homework. I have great insurance and would jump to be in the Quantum study that Curiouslady mentioned.

That doesn't mean that I would do ANY study. I have read every shred of info on Psi 7977 and as someone mentionded there are some arms that are better than others, but you will ulitimatly get  SOC in the end.

So...go through all the appropriate phases of acceptance and do your research. As so many have said...you know your body...your circumstances..your living arrangements. etc. You are the only that can make this desicion. I struggled for 3 weeks over Victrelis or Incivek:-)  

Good luck on what you choose to do and know that you have found some incredibly knowledgeable  and compassionate people with varying opinions to help you along the way:-)

Take Care~

Vann

[HectorSF]

You can decide against treating your hepatitis C or any illness for that matter. That is your right. Deciding not to do something is as much of a decision and deciding to do something. It is a decision with consequences no one can predict and could possibly lead to your death from liver disease. But whatever you choose is a risk. And only you can decide what you value and don't value.

To make an informed decision you should find out how advanced your liver disease is. If you want to know what you are risking. You should have a biopsy performed as others have said. Are you afraid of a biopsy also?

A few things to keep in mind as a consequence of not treating...
You should understand that as you get older your liver disease will progress faster then when you where younger. So if you have stage 2 or 3 liver fibrosis you can easily progress to cirrhosis in less time then it took you to develop liver disease up until now. You should also realize that the older you get and the more advanced your liver disease the more difficult it will be to treat successfully. You odds of successfully treating will be less then they are currently.

As long as you are prepared to accept that by not having treatment you could possibly develop liver failure or liver cancer in the future and die a horrible painful death then that is your personal choice. Maybe you have little reason to live and don't want to hassle with treating for 6 or 12 months of treatment. As we older adults know we are all going to die at some point.

What I find strange is "am afraid of doing treatment". Why? But then again apparently not afraid of dying horribly from liver disease. I find it curious. Maybe you don't believe in treating any illness? I know certain people do. For my own edification could you explain why you prefer the possibility of death vs a temporary treatment for 6 or 12 months? I am a person who will do just about anything to try to continue living, I am interested personally in how you fear treatment rather then the possibility of death. If this is not too personal. Is this part of a belief system? God's will? (just so you know... I have advanced cirrhosis and liver cancer and if I don't get treatment (a liver transplant) in the next 2 years my chances of living beyond that are low).

Thank you.
Good luck with your decision.
Hector


What if i decide against treatment for Hep C Type 1a. I am 55 yrs old and have had Hep C for 23 years and am afraid of doing treatment for this. What are the risks?

[FlGuy]

Hmmm,  what are the risks, you ask.  Well, your liver could be compromised causing its life-giving filtering properties to begin to fail which, in turn, can decrease and impair almost every aspect of your health.  It can further cause mental acuity loss to the extent that you hallucinate and loose any firm grip on anything that resembles reality.  The effects of these spiraling impacts to you could have devastating effects on those around you and those who love you in their vain attempt to watch out for your health and welfare which may be ebbing away like the insouciant tide of your life.  Of course, it would lead them to wonder why a loved one would overtly choose that course of life and the unmistakable regrets of and wounds to those left behind.
On the other hand, maybe not.
Good luck in your decision.

[willbb]

if your liver damage (fibrosis) is advanced is possible cirrhosis,leading to liver failure and HCC(liver cancer.)
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meant to add the words  "which may" lead to liver failure and HCC.

this does not always happen

[hrsepwrguy]

Let me start by saying I'm not a trial basher, I believe they are absolutly vital for future, less invasive higher cure rates in the future. I found treatment through clinicaltrials.gov however it is more of a study of approved drugs than a trial. As pointed out by nygirl in a previous thread the majority of people entering trials are people who failed previous treatment attemps and feel that they have no other choice to try and rid themselves of hcv. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but since 2000 how many promising new drugs have actually been approved safe and effective by FDA. 3-ribavirin,telaprevir and boceprevir and as I said please correct me if I am wrong. The choice to treat is a personal one that should be well thought out and discussed at lenght with a qualified doctor. A trial is exacly what it says it is a trial, no in depth hard data but in the process of compiling that data. I personally like facts and proven cure percentage ratio's which are the best they have ever been for GT 1 patients at this stage in the game, You have gotten some good advice, find out the extent of liver damage and make the decision to treat or not and what drugs to treat with while being advised by a qualified doctor who has expirience treating hcv