After 12 months of treatment! :)

Hi everyone  

I just want to tell you that after 12 weeks of treatment I'm clear now, thanks god!  
I end now 17 weeks of treatment, so 31 weeks left. :)
I have HCV, genotype 1 with viral load 700,000.

I have question.  

After finishing the whole period of the treatment lets say one year, are there any possibility that the virus come back again by it self?!
I don't mean by getting the infection from other place, I know that we can not get the immunity against the HCV!  

But, could that happens?, that the virus dose not clear from my body and just hidden under the tissues??
If so, How much the chance of getting it back??

[Marc1955]

Congratulations on your good progress. Even if you stay clear for the rest of treatment, there is a chance that the virus will return once the treatment ends. I'll let others quote the exact number but it is a pretty decent chance. A mutation of the virus could be lurking in your liver and once the treatment stops, it reestablishes itself.

It's pretty good that they've gotten this far with treatment, but the cure rates are far from guaranteed. Here's hoping you'll be one of the fortunate ones.

[pink86]

Really!!

So what is the point of having the treatment now!! :(

[Marc1955]

Because HCV is a serious, often fatal virus with all sorts of extremely nasty impacts as it progresses.

I'm surprised no one briefed you on the issue of cure rates before your started. There are many variables, but for genotype 1 the cure rate is roughly 50% with the current treatments. That's great progress from a time when there was nothing at all, but it is obviously far from what we would want. Your doctor really should have explained the risks and possibilities so you could consider things before you started. Now that you're on your way you should definitely continue. Having cleared at week 12, your chances of success are higher than 50%.

[IMstacie]

When I was diagnosed, my dr. sent me to a class, there is a lot to learn.  While 50-60% of patients respond to treatment initially, lasting clearance of the virus occurs in about 10-40% of patients. Treatment can be given a second time to those who relapse after initial treatment.

I was also told that if you don't respond the treatment still has a benefit of slowing the progression of the virus.

[pink86]

So there is a 50% chance for getting the virus back?!!

As I remember my doctor doesn't mention that to me, she talked about the sides effects but not about the chance of cure as I remember!

certainly I'm gonna complete my treatment, but also I'm worry about my future and my other plans!

I guess I have to talk about this in my next appointment!

That is a little bit shocking! :)


Thanks a lot for the information.

[Marc1955]

Since you cleared by week 12, your chances are higher than 50%. You are also quite young, which I think also increases your chances. But you should definitely talk to your physician. Hopefully none of it will matter, but it's best to have as much information as possible.

[Bill1954]

Hi Pink,

This is a good site for general HCV information; click on ‘newly diagnosed’ near the top of the page, or any link in the right-hand margin:

http://janis7hepc.com/

Good luck with you’re treatment outcome,

Bill

[pink86]

Ok, thanks a lot :)

[pink86]

Thanks for the web site :)

[zazza]

Since you cleared by week 12, your odds of clearing are 70-80%. That is pretty good odds I would say. And being a young female probably ups your odds even more, so keep your hopes high!

Good luck,
Za

[pink86]

My hopes is high but also I need to know my chances and everything! :)

I can't wait two months, I think I'm gonna ask my doctor about this thing!

What I exactly should ask her about, and what I should know more??

I'm a little bit confuse now :)

[Bill1954]

Hi Pink,

You might start by explaining to your doctor that you understand some patients do not respond long term to the treatment; that approximately 50% will relapse six months after treatment ends.

The term we use for ‘cure’ is ‘SVR’. This is what you want to discuss with the doctor.

Ask her what she feels your chances to achieve Sustained Viral Response (SVR) are based on your individual profile; certain factors including age, gender, etc, may have influence over this outcome.

No one can predict with accuracy the outcome of treatment, but it is possible to narrow the statistics a little.

Again, I wish you good luck—

Bill

[pink86]

Ok, I will tell her that :)

I think I'm gonna wait my next appointment after month and half, in that time I will be finish six months of the treatment!
basing on my pcr, cbc, thyroid and all the tests results at that time, I'm gonna ask her about my chances to achieve the SVR.

It's better to wait and ask her after 3 months being UND, right? :)


Thanks alot for your help :)

[eureka254]

"So there is a 50% chance for getting the virus back?!! "

Think of it this way: lots of people don't make it to week #12... and for the Geno 1s that make it to week 12, about 50% don't get to UND like you did. :)

Best wishes,
~eureka

[pink86]

Really!!

So, maybe I have good chance at the end :)

Thank you veray much for your comments..
I feel much better now :)

Thanks again

[merryBe]

treating while you are young, and before any serious liver damage is done gives you the best chance of SVR with the least amount of complications. The older patients have far more sides as their health is already on the wane.

between your age, your quick response, etc, I would say your odds are much better than 50%.  Fifty percent is an AVERAGE for that genotype based on the whole group of treater most of whom are older and sicker, so you have an excellent chance of not relapsing, Also, you will not have to worry about feeling sick anymore, or of passing it on to a husband or child. In many ways it makes good sense for you to have treated now, even though better drugs are coming, they are still years away at best.

I do hope you succeed in remaining clear.
I'll send you one link that may give you another way to approach end of tx. You will need to read the whole thread to really understand it...and it may not help...but that is for you and your doctor to decided. Its an interesting concept at the very least.

mb

[merryBe]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/393732

[pink86]

Thanks a lot Merry

I wish u all the best :)