Chronic type 1a

[printze]

How many are over  age 50 with chronic infection over 25 yrs newly diagnosed  and are doing ok ?  I am 53yrs old and thinkkI have had this for over 25yrs . I am very scared of the  fibroscan,what if I have cancer ?

[LML6203]

I am 53 and have had genotype 1a for at least 30 years. I did not have a fibroscan but had a liver biopsy. I have minmal liver damage and no symptoms. I am to start triple tx in mid November 2011. Don;t worry and keep us posted.

[Lonestar823]

Off the actual topic of your question regarding your fear of cancer but I think your mind must be put to rest on that subject for the moment.

My thoughts after reading this thread are that I am relieved  so many of us had no symptoms before being diagnosed. I've read and reread the Hepatitis letter on the social side and have been surprised with the number of people the letter resonates with.  Must have carried the virus for 30+ years with absolutely no symptoms.  Always had lived a very active and full life.  Treated twice, 97 weeks all together.  Svr five years now and realize how lucky I am.  Life is better than I ever could have imagined.

I wish you the very best and much good luck.

Ls

[printze]

Thank you , the pain is in the liver area it radiaates from the unde rrib cage to back and comes and goes.I t is more like a discomfort ,it does not stop me from doing my daily duties work etc. My hep doctor mentioend fibrosis las time I saw him, socould it be the sac that is prssingon theother organs causing the discomfort. I had my gallbladder out 15 yrs ago so it is not that. I also heard this is a commn complaint.Other than that I feel great.Seeing doc on Oct 26, for scan and to discuss treatment .  

[pooh55811]

I have had Hep C for 30-35 years. I did not know it until July 2011 when a routine liver panel was done and my ALT was elevated (80) so they did a Hep panel and it showed I have Hep C. My ultrasound looked good. My liver biopsy shows Stage 2. My viral count is 14,400,000 (faily high). I started treatment with Pegasys, Ribavirin, and Incivek 3 days ago and am hoping I will clear.

Good luck with your scan and everything else.

PS: I was totally freaked out when I first found out I had Hep C and thought I would die within the year. Now, after learning a lot more about Hep C, I no longer feel that way and, while still being realistic, I feel the treatment will work.

[curiouslady1]

Will you be getting an ultrasound of the whole area?  Sometimes gall bladder problems can give pain in the area of the liver.  Sometimes flatulence will seem like liver pain.  There are other physical problems that can lead you to believe your liver hurts.

[HectorSF]

Thanks for more details. I will try to answer your questions.

"I figure it can't be cancer , the doctor would know by now wouldn't he?" Yes he should IF...Is your doctor a gastroenterologist, I hope? Not a PCP. You need the right type of doctor to diagnose you properly.

"My question to you is the pain I am experiencing normal?"
What pain? You didn't mention anything about pain. Please describe it as best as your can.
Most people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. That is why the majority of people that have hepatitis C don't know they are infected. Some patients do have symptoms. The most common one being fatigue. Feel tired all the time. You should NOT have any physical pain from hepatitis C. Even very advanced liver disease patients only experience pain when they are very very ill.

The good news is that you say you had an ultrasound. Assuming they are familiar and experienced with liver disease, if you have cirrhosis it would have been seen. Therefore YOU DON"T HAVE CIRRHOSIS and are very unlikely to have HCC! So don't worry about it. There is no need. Your viral load is low which is good. Unless their is something you aren't mentioning you appear to be an excellent candidate for treatment.

You don't have cirrhosis. Meaning you can still treat your hepatitis C. Frankly you are very lucky. See what the results of the fibroscan is and then go from there. I hope you learned that it is not good to ignore your hepatitis C any longer.

Again, please describe "the pain" you are experiencing. You have told the doctor about the pain, correct? What did they say?

Good luck!
Let us know the results of the fibroscan when you get them.
Hector

[belle19]

i am 62 and have had hepc for about 37 years.  never had any symptons.  lived a full and active life.  i found out i had hepc last nov. and had a biopsy.  i have stage 2 mild fibrosis.  i started tx in june.  so far so good.  UND at week 8.  i get tired and sometimes i get a rash.  it's all livable. i want to rid myself of this horrible virus.  good luck to you.  belle

[printze]

Thank you all for your great information, I just want ot get this over with so I can get the full picture . My scan is October 26, also chest x-rays and heart test. Then discussion of what treatment and proceed from that point . My question to you is the pain I am experiencing normal ? I hav had th eultrasound , and all th liver function tests, v/l is 560,000-   type 1a  - now next step to determine density of lliver( that is what the hepatologist said the fibroscan does) . Besides that my health is good. Doc said red blood very good, liver is funtioning excellantly . This waiting is the scary  part. I really am not dcsared of the treatment at all.I am strong I will get through it. I figure it can't be cancer , the doctor would know by now wouldn't he?

[HectorSF]

There are a number of misconceptions in the above posts that I would like to clarify...

First, A fibroscan only measures the degree of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. It does not detect HCC (liver cancer). AFP and imaging tests such as CT scans and MRIs are used to diagnose liver cancer. If you have hepatitis C and cirrhosis your chances of developing HCC is 3-5%/yr. So every year an additional 3-5% is added on. So if you have cirrhosis for 5 years the chances are 15%-25%.

Second, Unless you have cirrhosis your chances of HCC are low.

Third, You are focusing and worrying about something that is very unlikely. You should focus of getting a current assessment of your health and then treating your hepatitis C before you develop advanced liver disease.

So first you need to find out how advanced your liver disease is.

"I am very scared of the  fibroscan, what if I have cancer ? "
As I said you would have to have cirrhosis to have a higher risk of HCC. What if you have liver cancer? You don't want to know? Well if you seek no medical treatment and develop HCC. You won't have any symptoms until it has advanced beyond treatment and you will probably have only a few very painful months to live. I personally don't see any upside to that. As with many cancers, if it is found early you have a good chance of surviving, if it is very advanced by the time you feel the pain it will frankly be too late. How do I know this? I have liver cancer. Trust me, it is not something that you ever want to have happen to you.

Good luck.
Hector

[Vannh9]

Hi

I am 53 (female) and they think I have had it for over 35 years. I haven't had a drink in 23 years. I have only recently started feeling really tired (6 months) I had a cat scan and was feeling like I might have cancer also, but was clear. I also had a biopsy and have stage 2 grade 3 liver disease...other than being tired, I feel fine. you will get lots of support, but knowing the condition of you liver will help you determine when/how to treat. I know it is hard not to be ruled by fear, but try and stay positive.

Good luck and keep us posted

Vann

[brianmo]

When I was dx we figured I had the virus for 30 years or so. I quit drinking when I was 24 and stop smoking soon after. Thank goodness. Fast forward to me being 48 and getting the dx. I have always felt great. No sympts from hep c except for pain in liver area which, after four doctors, they all tell me it's not related.  Get the scan. My first biopsy showed I was stage 1. I was terrified to have it thinking because I had the virus for so long it would be worse. Not so.

[curiouslady1]

I'll add my comment.  I was also infected for more than 40 years and ended up with fibrosure equivalent to f=0-1; lower than my study mates who had the infection for much less time.  I also drank but not all that much since it dragged me down and too long to recover.  

[printze]

Thanks for your  support, I am not afraid of the fibroscan, it is the results after having this for over 25yrs and drinking also . I no longer drink 9 mths, quit smoking  also. I  get scared because of the liver pain I have, I am hoping its because the liver is enlarged and that is a normal pain I am experiencing. So scared, no tof the treatment of knowing what they will find  .

[Mari5116]

I'm over 60 have hep C for over 40 years, feel good, have energy and hope to treat soon.  Have not had Fibroscan (would like to but when I called Miami to inquire was told the "probe" had been sent out for repair) but had Fibrosure blood work which came back as F2 (fibrosis stage).  
I know your not saying ignorance is bliss.  This is all so very scary and knowledge is power.
It's proabably unlikely you have cancer but always better to know so you can be pro-active.  Wouldn't you agree?  
Best,
Mari5116

[sandysf]

I have had HCV likely 30 plus years and had no symptoms before diagnosis,  drank plenty of wine, enjoyed life and still my biopsy showed no fibrosis.  So many of us are doing well even though we had hep c for many years.  Don't worry!  I know it is easier said than done, but once you get the facts you will know what you are dealing with.  Now we have treatments that offer much higher success rates than in the past.  

[coeric]

I am 56 and been experiencing hcv for 30 years. I am also experiencing compensated cirrhosis.  The chance of liver cancer in compensated cirrhosis is maybe 1 to 2 percent each year.  In the absence of cirrhosis it is much less. Fibroscan is quick, easy and painless and I lived to tell about it.
Blessings
Eric

[frijole]

I am over 60 and have had hep C for about 35 years.YOu have nothing to worry about with the fibroscan.  I have not had one but it is non-invasive.  Cancer is probably only a remote possibility.  Don't worry yourself.

frijole