Re: Hepatitis C

Posted By HFHSM.D.-dm on April 08, 1998 at 18:32:18:

In Reply to: Hepatitis C posted by Joan Fowler on April 03, 1998 at 21:56:22:






Dear Sir or Madam,
I got extremely ill when I was about 17 years old.  I
am now 52.  The doctor told me I had a blood infection.  
That illness put me in bed for two to three weeks.  
After that I was better and have considered myself to
be in generally good health since then.  I had been donating
blood regularly since I was 18 years of age. Approximately 7
years ago, I was told that I should not donate blood any more,
because I had Hepatitis C.  I went to my family physician
who didn't even know what Hepatitis C was.  As far as I know,
I don't experience any ill effects from Hepatitis C.  Should
I be concerned about the potential for liver cancer?  How
concerned should I be that I have Hepatitis C?  Should I be
seeking a doctor about this?
Thank you for your assistance in answering my questions.  
Joan Fowler



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Dear Joan:
I read your letter with great interest.  It sounds like you may have had hepatitis C for at least seven years, you have no symptoms and you wonder if you should be concerned about having hepatitis C and you wonder if you are at risk for liver cancer.
I have had the opportunity to answer several questions about hepatitis C for MEDHELP  and I always stress that hepatitis C is an extremely chronic infection that takes decades to evolve.  I also stress that some patients may never develop problems related to their hepatitis C.  For this reason, I stress that hepatitis C is never a reason for panic but it is a reason for concern.  It is possible to develop significant liver problems from hepatitis C and a small number of patients can develop liver cancer.  
I think it is very important that you see a physician about hepatitis C because you really need and deserve more answers about your specific circumstances.  You need to find out for sure that you even have hepatitis C because the tests the Red Cross performs for hepatitis C are screening tests and are not 100% accurate.  If you do have the infection, you need to get a feel for whether it is causing significant problems to your liver and also to find out what your options are for therapy.
You should see a physician about this and you should see someone with some experience with hepatitis C.  In most communities, gastroenterologists see patients with hepatitis C.  If possible, however, you may wish to see a liver specialist (they are called hepatologists) who has a lot of experience with hepatitis C.  
I hope this is helpful to you.  If you have additional questions or want more information, I would certainly encourage you to contact me without hesitation at [phone].  I am one of three hepatologists at Henry Ford and we see a large number of patients with hepatitis C and are active in hepatitis C research.  If you live near Detroit, we would be happy to see you or we could help you find an appropriate physician in your community.  
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.