Aa
Is it really worth it???
I'm going thru a bunch of test to determine if i'm eligible for the interferon treatment but I've heard so many bad things about the side effects and the outcome. I don't know if they're completely true but I believe they do have some truth in them somewhere. Anyways is there anyone out there that has had the treatment and what did u go thru? Were u sick all the time? Is it really worse then chemo? It only puts u in remission for 6 months or is it longer than that? I would really appreciate some feedback. Thanks!
Missy
Missy
Missy,
I had a real problem with these drugs. (see never give up hope) However I would do it all over again if I could. To do nothing if foolish. This won't go away by itself. If inter/ribo doesent work it's not the end. New treatment are comeing. Hang in there.
I had a real problem with these drugs. (see never give up hope) However I would do it all over again if I could. To do nothing if foolish. This won't go away by itself. If inter/ribo doesent work it's not the end. New treatment are comeing. Hang in there.
If you are six months after treatment and UND you have achieved SVR (systemic virological response) and this means you are indeed cured. Aside from being reinfected again you should remain that way forever. I gather that the rate is higher than 99.99.
It's great news!
It's great news!
Hey when they say after 6 months of treatment and still undetectable....how many stay that way after that period of time?
Thanks!
Thanks!
PS I don't care really what you want to call treatment I only worry about people being scared out of doing treatment because they think 'chemo' is like what you see in the movies. If it were I would not have made it 72 weeks and I had a very bad course of treatment. While some others have no problems at all. but it's best that everyone is afforded the opportunity to find out for themselves and certainly there is enough apprehension out there already.
"It only puts u in remission for 6 months or is it longer than that?"
This statement makes me think that you need to have a discussion with your doctor so that he/she can answer some of your basic questions. Yes, you can definitely ask them here and we are glad to answer but please also discuss them with your doctor. When someone is about to start treatment and they don't what remission is about, then I personally feel they are starting treatment a bit too early.
Continue to ask your questions here, read all you can about HCV and the treatment meds and make a list of questions for your doctor. The greatest favor you can do for yourself is to be as educated as you can be before you start treatment. Be one step ahead before you start. :)
This statement makes me think that you need to have a discussion with your doctor so that he/she can answer some of your basic questions. Yes, you can definitely ask them here and we are glad to answer but please also discuss them with your doctor. When someone is about to start treatment and they don't what remission is about, then I personally feel they are starting treatment a bit too early.
Continue to ask your questions here, read all you can about HCV and the treatment meds and make a list of questions for your doctor. The greatest favor you can do for yourself is to be as educated as you can be before you start treatment. Be one step ahead before you start. :)
If you think it's chemo then it can be chemo. Technically it's antiviral therapy but we just always say chemo so that office folks and coworkers dont freak out and think we're going to infect them all.
But I believe that interferon therapy boosts our immune systems while chemotherapy destroys cancer cells, tumors and stuff like that so it's completely different. If anytime you used a chemical to cure something you wanted to call it chemotherapy then taking a shot of insulin would be considered chemo?
But I believe that interferon therapy boosts our immune systems while chemotherapy destroys cancer cells, tumors and stuff like that so it's completely different. If anytime you used a chemical to cure something you wanted to call it chemotherapy then taking a shot of insulin would be considered chemo?
Cancer doesn't have a trademark on the word "chemo". what we are doing is a "form" of chemo....having said that, i am on my 21st week of TX and sure it's no day at the beach, but i have my good days and not so good days. the not so good days are mostly fatigue, nausea, a mild rash and a general cranky attitude. BUT, it's tolerable for me, and it just might be tolerable for you. i am on standard of care (SOC) treatment. i was lucky to be undetectable at 12 weeks. you could too, but you have to jump in with both feet and ignore all the opinions (like mine and others) and do it for you. being positive is a must. there are rescue drugs that you can take that will help. i had hemolytic anemia and they reduced my dose for 2 weeks and i felt great. i take procrit to boost my hemoglobin. you can do it and you should do it to beat this scourge. it took me 41 years to get here and i am happy i started MY form of 'chemo', yes it's all mine you can't have it...mine mine mine....so there.
good luck and believe you can do it....the support here will get you through it.
yes, it's worth it.
good luck and believe you can do it....the support here will get you through it.
yes, it's worth it.
this was just sent to me in a PM
." I would like to post that people who call this anti-viral tx "chemo" are self-aggrandizing types who crave drama and attention. They should thank God they don't have to do chemo. Yes there are similarities but really its just in a different universe altogether and they really need to understand the difference. Why scare people needlessly".
." I would like to post that people who call this anti-viral tx "chemo" are self-aggrandizing types who crave drama and attention. They should thank God they don't have to do chemo. Yes there are similarities but really its just in a different universe altogether and they really need to understand the difference. Why scare people needlessly".
You should start a thread and ask. I have been on this forum for 6 or 7 years and have seen plenty of cancer survivors come and go and they ought to know the difference dont ya think? I treated for 72 weeks and just about double dosed my meds and had a very rough course of side effects; however, it was nothing like the people I have known who have gone through REAL chemo. This medication is NOT IT.
Yes it is a 'chemical therapy' but no it it nothing like chemo so get those pictures out of your head they will just make you scared.
If anyone thinks it's like chemo ask any of the number of folks on the forum who have done both IFN and chemo.......they'll straighten it out really quick.
If anyone thinks it's like chemo ask any of the number of folks on the forum who have done both IFN and chemo.......they'll straighten it out really quick.
nobody can tell you what you will experience and dont compare yourself to anyone interferon was initially and still is a chemotherapy drug so its chemotherapy but thats not the point the point is that if you are undectable after 6 months post treatment you will stay that way (99%)
I just completed 6 months of tx and the virus was undetected in my blood by the 4 week and 16 week mark. I am waiting to hear if I am still undetected now that I completed the 6 months.
I don't know what stage of liver damage I have as I haven't had a biopsy in about 5 years. Back then I was only in stage 1, so I imagine it didn't progress that far. Even though I probably have little liver damage, I didn't want to take the risk of getting worse. Treatment wasn't easy and since I only just finished last Thursday, I'm still not feeling well. If I'm cured though, the weight that will be lifted will have been well worth the treatment. That's my two cents.
June
I don't know what stage of liver damage I have as I haven't had a biopsy in about 5 years. Back then I was only in stage 1, so I imagine it didn't progress that far. Even though I probably have little liver damage, I didn't want to take the risk of getting worse. Treatment wasn't easy and since I only just finished last Thursday, I'm still not feeling well. If I'm cured though, the weight that will be lifted will have been well worth the treatment. That's my two cents.
June
Is it really worth it??? I guess that is a question we have all asked at one time or another.
Many people will die at a ripe old age with having HCV and not even know it .and some will know and do nothing about it. However ,the virus is constantly doing it"s dirty work and many left untreated will progress to cirrhosis and possibly liver failure.
Treatments to date have had success rates of anywhere from 17% to about 80% (cure,,not just remission) depending on many factors(race ,age,geno type.liver damage,just to name a few),however drugs ar being released as we speak that will have better success rates and the future looks even brighter in this regard.
Side effects can be anywhere from very mild to much more severe,however most people find they can get through treatment.,,and if successful....yes ....very much worth it.
Hopefully you are under the care of a Hepatologist or a knowledgeable Gastoenterologist to discuss your options.
good luck
Will
Many people will die at a ripe old age with having HCV and not even know it .and some will know and do nothing about it. However ,the virus is constantly doing it"s dirty work and many left untreated will progress to cirrhosis and possibly liver failure.
Treatments to date have had success rates of anywhere from 17% to about 80% (cure,,not just remission) depending on many factors(race ,age,geno type.liver damage,just to name a few),however drugs ar being released as we speak that will have better success rates and the future looks even brighter in this regard.
Side effects can be anywhere from very mild to much more severe,however most people find they can get through treatment.,,and if successful....yes ....very much worth it.
Hopefully you are under the care of a Hepatologist or a knowledgeable Gastoenterologist to discuss your options.
good luck
Will
and the virus is sooooo tiny. I am so looking forward to being rid of this virus, so I can have the energy to live the rest of my life in a more conscious, compassionate way.
After doing 48 weeks of tx, my opinion about the chemo thing is... it's kind of like watered down chemo. No, you don't loose all of your hair, I just lost 1/3 of mine... the sides aren't as extreme as cancer chemo, but they go on for a lot longer... at least mine did. Was it worth it? You bet! They can't find the virus in my blood, which means it isn't attacking my liver any more. Do a little bit of reading about all the things we need our liver for, and you may appreciate the fact that if it isn't working correctly, the body suffers greatly... and the brain.
The reason that the drugs cause so many problems is because the virus is SOOOOO hard to kill.
Diane
The reason that the drugs cause so many problems is because the virus is SOOOOO hard to kill.
Diane
No it's not worse than chemo in fact its NOTHING like chemo at all chemo is 100x worse just ask anyone who has done both.
It does not put you in remission it CURES you completely, I have been cured for five years already.
And is it worth taking it - yes if you dont want to die of end stage liver disease and have advanced liver damage it's totally worth it.
It does not put you in remission it CURES you completely, I have been cured for five years already.
And is it worth taking it - yes if you dont want to die of end stage liver disease and have advanced liver damage it's totally worth it.
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