24 week Follow-Up he is UND

My husband participated in the Boceprevir (Victrelis) Clinical Trial. He had anemia, and so was randomly assigned to receive EPO with no Ribavirin dose reduction. He cleared at about week 6 of treatment, and remained clear. SX included the anemia, hair loss, injection site rash, poor mood, fever, fatigue, cold hands, weight loss and the dreaded metal taste in the mouth. He endured it and now he is considered "cured" 6 months after taking his last dose. The treatment is not nice, it is hard, it is terrible, you will need help, but you can be cured - you can slay this dragon and begin living your life with hope for the future. Don't let the fear of SX stop you - talk to your Doctor and get treated.

[willbb]

Thanks for posting this..and a hearty congratulations to your husband on winning a tough fight!!

Will

[willing]

many congratulations on the happy news. YAY.

and thanks for the words of encouragement. Another vic victory (I'm starting to see why they picked that name,  though it still sounds like a hair product). How low did Hgb drop?

>The treatment is not nice
indeed

[Bill1028]

Congratulations!  Tx ***** and fortunately it is temporary, but cured last forever.



Has anyone rasped on this?

[Bill1028]

rasped is supposed to be relapsed.

[dabink]

Thank you! He went to 10.1 HGB - but he was low to begin with, and he is - as they say "a big fella".

@Bill1028 - don't think after 6 months post treatment there is relapsing. He will most likely participate in a 3 year follow-up study just checking in, and I will be sure to keep the forum updated.

[Boobert]

Everytime I read of these success stories I get a little closer to jumping on the band wagon. Congrats and Thank you.

Bob.

[dabink]

I think that it is something you should seriously consider. Obviously you and your Dr. will decide what is best for you - but my husband was diagnosed with Hep C and then within a year of finding THAT out - he had a biopsy and discovered that the Hep C was going on so long undetected that he now had Cirrhosis, and he was 47 at that point. He wasn't a big drinker - he just had HCV so long that it had caused scarring of his liver. He didn't want to have to go the whole route of pharmaceuticals - but when he learned about the Cirrhosis - it was his only real choice. A terrible decision, but I know that although going through treatment sucked - now he is through it, and although his liver is scarred for life, if he lives healthy and avoids alcohol, he should be able to live a long and healthy life. What more could any of us hope for? Look into some of the later stage clinical trials, perhaps there is one near you that you could participate in. those may be good to think about, too.

[spectda]

Great news on the SVR, wonderfull news!!

He was lucky to be in the epo arm. Most of the people who were in the anemia trial on the forum seem have been randomized to the riba reduction arm. My nurse told me that only one of twenty in their office got the epo.

Best of luck to you both,
Dave