New Japanese study- Mandarin orange juice lowers risk of liver cancer

Saw this on the news this morning.

http://www.upi.com/ConsumerHealthDaily/view.php?StoryID=20060911-111050-8349r

[painterlady13]

Mmmmmm I knew I loved mandarin oranges for a reason

[Algernon]

And if you chase the Mandarin orange juice with a few cups of java--your liver will really rejoice.

Wonder what made those scientists decide to study OJ and the liver...

[mycoldfeet]

I just wanted to borrow a thread to ask a question, I have been through tx a couple ears ago, and now again after relapse, but I have been hearing a lot of people talking about viral breakthrough, is this a new term, or is it happening more often,or something that has come up instudies lately? Its a scarey term to me. An explanation of why this occures would be appreciated.

[DoubleDose]

Breakthrough is very different than relapse.  Viral Breakthrough means that the virus comes back DURING therapy, after the person had gotten undetected earlier in therapy.  This is a tx related issue, and yes, several people on the forum have experienced this viral breakthrough recently.  Possibly resistant strains of the virus...possibly insufficient dosing of either the interferon or ribavirin.

Relapse is another issue entirely, and it also happens frequently, but usually within the first month or two of finishing therapy.  For those that are still undetected at six months after ending therapy, their odds of relapse are close to ZERO!

I would not worry too much about either issue.  Did you finish a second round of tx?  Are you undetected or do you still have the virus?

DoubleDose

[DoubleDose]

My only questions regarding the Mandarin Orange Juice studies are:

1.  What is a "Specially Prepared" glass of Mandarin Orange juice????  Sounds like they are adding some magical ingredient to me!!!  Is this routine for Japanese studies???

2.  Why are they presenting the findings to the American Chemical Society????  So the juice can be used in the manufacture of frying pan coatings I assume.........

Enjoying the day!

DoubleDose

[NYgirl]

Ketchup lowers the risk of certain cancers too!  :)

[mycoldfeet]

I', hep c 1a and completed a 48wk tx and UND end of 12wk through end of tx and relapsed a couple of months later, but I did have an approx 3 wk break in tx about 15 wks into tx, due to pluresy in lung, then just went back on meds, since watching the clinicaloptions video, they said a 2-3 wk stop in meds would have put my riba serum level back to zero, and would be back to square one. I'm on a 72 wk tx of pegasys/riba again, my vl 1st go around was 9 mil vl before starting this 72 wk tx (shot 5) was 4 mil,waiting on 4 wk pcr fingers crossed. appreciate your input.

[NYgirl]

I sure don't understand after a stop of that long why any doctor would think it wouldn't affect you as it did.  Sometimes...they make me shake my head.

[mycoldfeet]

Back then if you missed three wks they just added it to the end,which wouldn't have helped anyway, maybe some of these studies arn't just a waste of money lol btw he didn't even add the three to the end.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Good morning guys,  I also would think that a break of 3 weeks would call for a restart of treatment fom point 1.  However, my dr said last week that while attending a conference in Boston they are finding more and more are relapsing at 8 months, etc post tx. reguardless of geno types.  It would appear to be the draw of the cards if we get to SVR.

So all we were lead to believe may not hold water, Go figure.

Beagle

[amommy]

Hey!  Just checking in on you! Glad to see you are still hanging out around here.  :)  I had asked before, but I think it got buried, things are quick around here.  Did you have any post tx testing done before the 3 month mark?  Did you have a pcr at 4 weeks post?  Or, was 12 weeks your first post tx test?  I am just curious, and trying to get my ducks in a row in event of a relapse.  Thanks for the info!

[Mister beagle bailey]

There was someone here on the forum who posted a few weeks ago that they relapsed after 8 months but I can't remember the name.  Even myself, I had all the right #'s and still I relapsed.  I'm 2B, starting VL 318,000, treated at full dose for 24 weeks and was UND till 3 months post tx, so go figure.  It does appear that those that treated longer then recommended seems to get to SVR.

Beagle

[mycoldfeet]

yeah, I relapsed too 1a, but what is this tribavirin you told copyman about, every reference to it on the web puts ribavirin in () next to it, even looked in clinical trials. Interested because with a 72 wk tx I may be needing some help at some time.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Tribavirin lab name viramidine by Valeant Pharm allows those treating to stay on treatment longer because it replaces riba and does not bring down the HGB which was my problem.  I can't treat longer then 24 weeks because my HGB is to low and I have thalassemia anemia from birth.  This new drug will allow me to treat longer without the sxs of riba.

Here is the site:  www.valeant.com  Then click on tribavirin.

Beagle

[GoofyDad]

Sorry again about the relapse. Hope it's getting at least a little easier to digest. You say you were UND till 3 mos post - can you fill us in on what post tx testing you had done? Were you tested clear at 3 mos, then relapsed?

IIRC my doc, a hepo at a major west coast TP center, says he's never had a relapse after 6 mos. He's heard of them, and they happen, but he hasn't had one. Studies I've read concur, not many relapses after 6 mos. I do think those with higher damage (me) have a higher risk of late relapse.

[Mister beagle bailey]

It's getting better knowing I relapsed, guess it wasn't in my cards.  I had the Quest bDNA-RNA, Quantitative along with AST 24 and ALT 13 and CBC done.  However, the day I took the test the girl who was new, only took 1 full vial of blood and the second vial had about 1/4 in. of blood as she was unable to get more.  I questioned it and she insisited it was enough blood.  I told my DR what happened and he was taken back and wanted to know how they could do all thoses tests without 2 full vials of blood.  Anyway, he sent me a new script and told me to go to LabCorp and I am now awaiting those results.  It will probably be the same, but i'm hoping it's not.  There was someone here that posted a few days ago that they relapsed at 8 months but I don't remember who it was and I don't think they posted their stats.

Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

It wasn't bDNA it was just RNA sorry

Beagle

[NYgirl]

You only relapsed so when you come to see Dr. J I can go out to lunch with you and Mrs. B.  I know it ;)

You said
So all we were lead to believe may not hold water, Go figure.



I think this is 100% true.  Looking lately at what goes on figuratively with geno's and odds - none of it seems to hold much water to me. Geno 2s the lucky ones? Uh since when?

The ONLY reason I decided to continue treatment was the logic in my own head...the longer I try to make sure that all of the creepy crawlies, even in my big toe or somewhere are DEAD the more of chance they might be.

Make sense? Who knows.  But with my low odds I figured it might be worth it.

Still Dr. J said treating for 72 weeks takes the odds down from 48% relapse to only around 30% chance of relapse. Still a BIG if there --

But all I've learned is this - you just gotta be the 1% in the 99% to get it.

The rest is just all speculation and guessing I really think.

[mycoldfeet]

There are so many different protocols now for the same tx, you would think they could agree on something, low beginning dose, high dose, 4 wk pcr, 12wk pcr lowerering doasage for low counts, rescue drugs from beginning of tx, or lowereing tx until the rescue drugs kick in, but relapse after > 8 mo's of svr? I need a valium. Were all these under the same protocols or standard of monitoring post tx?...makes your head hurt.

[Mister beagle bailey]

I had a PCR done at week 24 and at 6 weeks post tx AST 24 and ALT 13 then at 3 month post TX PCR showed I relapsed.

Beagle

[amommy]

Thanks for the info.  So you had a pcr at week 24 and then again 3 months post.  You had LFT's in between.  Man, this just really sucks.  I hate that you are dealing with this Beagle.  Your cure is around the corner.  Those new drugs are looking pretty darn good!