time between stages

[EyesofBlue55]

I know Im asking alot of questions but what it the approximate time between stages.Im stage 1 grade 1 with fibrosis.Im trying to estimate time so I can decide to treat or wait for the possible new duugs that are coming out soon(I hope)?????

[nygirl7]

if you decide to do the watch and wait method you have to make sure that you are actively 'watching' and not just waiting.  That means a biopsy every few years at most and living a liver healthy life style.

Although the drugs should be introduced in the next year no one yet knows if they will be approved by insurance or if first they will expect someone to try SOC.  Since they are adding on another drug (which will likely be extremely expensive with all the development that has gone into it) and treatment can already cost $100,000 (I figure mine at closer to $200,000 between all the meds and tests)  - I am sure they aren't just going to want to give it out easy as pie.

As a stage 1 you seem to have time to wait - but don't 'wait' until one day in the future when you get another bx and go oh no I'm stage 4 now?  As damage progression is not linear - you just can't tell and people can become cirrhotic in five years believe it or not.  Not always of course but you have a lot of questions so I'm trying to be as open and honest on all fronts with you that I can.

(You remind me of when I started I had more questions that anybody I think I drove the forum crazy (but back then we could only start three threads every six months so we had to put them all on one thread - it got a bit confusing but it worked!)

[WriteItDown]

There is no real answer to this question. Some people progress very slowly; some fast. However, at Satge 1 Grade 1 I think *most* people would feel they could afford to wait for the new drugs, which ought to be available within the year. Of course there is no guarantee of this, so it also depends upon your degree of anxiety. Many people do wait a lot longer than that, though, to treat.

[RobertBeWell]

I don't think one can even state and approximate time.... it's a very individual thing depending on lifestyle, genetics, and probably dozens of other things.

Having said that, Stage 1 Grade 1 is relatively early in the process. Your liver doc should be able to provide guidance since they know your individual history and personal information.

Here's a link to a nice document that describes the biopsy grading process in some detail, but not so much that it's overwhelming.

www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/grade_stage.pdf

Best of Luck!