need input on study

[Metoohelp]

I was just found out I have Hep C  genotype 1a  1,510,000 VL BX stage 2 grade 2.. I seen my Dr yesterday and i am going to tx. But a study is coming in the fall with a drug called Protease, has anyone heard of this drug and the results they are having...My Dr was pretty excited about it...So I was just wondering if any of you have any thoughts on it.

[bobbyullc]

try this site.http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2005/aa/051105feat.html

this protese inhibiter is hoped to be a breakthrough in tx. for hep c. it is in final stage trials and my dr. thinks 2-3 years to release. if it works treatment will be much shorter and milder. there are several other companies on the same path. if you are only stage 2.2 you may consider waiting. that is a real personal decision only you can make.
this is a very slow moving disease so you do not need to make a decision by 4pm today.
good luck
bobby

ps if you can not get that address to work just try  vertex.com
and look for vx950.

[can-do-man]

Good luck on what you decide, 3 or 4 months won't hurt, took me 3 months to start after all the tests and im a stage 4.

[bobbyullc]

thanks,

even at stage 4 there are many studies that indicate the peg-intron can slow if not reduce the damage. stay optimistic and do not let hep c take any more from you than it has. i love to hear up beat attitudes.
bobby

[Pdilly]

After the bx what all else do they test for or does that depend on the bx?

[Pdilly]

I could have had this 35 years so I may be in the same boat as you.  The cancer thing scares me as I lost my dad to liver cancer 16 months ago.   Watching that for almost two years rellly left an impression on me.  Just don't want to go there. I guess I need to be strong (some days are better than others) and just don't think about it and be more positive.

[SB1]

I'm 9 weeks into a Schering Plough Sch503034 protease inhibitor trial. The other PI VX-950 is from Vertex. I posted recently about it.

[can-do-man]

Hi, Try not to worry, i have no signs of cancer. Had all the test run. Theres people here thats had this 30 plus years with hardly any damage. Plus the risk of cancer is also low. My guess is at worse your stage 2. Which means you have plenty of time. Now thats just my guess, so lets see how close i am. One gal that used to come here had it 37 years and was only stage 1. I bet ya you will find out worring was the worsed of it. Take care and try not to stress it to much, not good for the ole ticker. Hope to see you on here and ask whatever, theres never a dumb question with this

[Pdilly]

Tell us how it is Going.

[Pdilly]

You are such a sweet heart... thanks for making me feel better.

[can-do-man]

Thanks, years you have it and viral loads mean nothing till you have the bx. And viral loads only matter when you start tx. You are a geno 2 right? if so your odds are very very good at clearing this. I think from 85 to 90%. So soon it will be in the past. and if there is any damage alot of times its reduced thru tx.

[Pdilly]

So far you are right...the only thing that has come my way so far is the 2.  I will take it.  I wish you were a 2 too. Maybe this time in treatment you will have lots of luck.  I will pray hard for you...The guy upstairs has gotten to know me quite well in the last few years.  I just hope and pray something comes up in these trials to help all of our friends on this site beat (us too) this ugly thing.

[Pdilly]

I have gotten over the viral load thing but just trying to figure out the meaning.  They said that it is 308,000 international units  10 log.   The test was PC something.  I think I have to times that by 5.2 to get the real number right?  I think that would put it to something like 16 mil. When everyone talks about their viral load here are they giving what the test spits out or are they doint he math?

[can-do-man]

No 308,000 is your viral load. they always add a much of nothing with it. Your viral load is low

[can-do-man]

I think what their talking about is log drops on their VL, like at week 12 you want to be clear or have atleast a 2 log drop which would make your vl from 308,000 to 3,080

[bobbyullc]

log and count are separate.
a 308,000 count comes to 5.48 log,do not multiply by that.
a 2 log drop will be 3.48 log or as stated above 3,080. just a mathematical thing we engineers use.

[Metoohelp]

bobby Thanks for the website...Im very excited about this study and am in no hurry to tx ....so I will wait and try the study and hope all works as well as it seems to..

SB1...How is the protease working for you? What was the subject of the last post you informed about your tx. Thanks

[Pdilly]

Are you on any treatment and if so how is it going?  Did you have any symptoms before you found out and how long was it from when you think you came infected and when you found out?  I know I am nosy. Sorry.  I am waiting for bx on June 1st.  Lately it seems like I am noticing things more than before.

[Pdilly]

Here is a website on some of the new stuff comming.
http://www.hcvdrugs.com/

[bobbyullc]

hep c may take 20 years or 40 years but i still think it will not make a differance to wait untill 4 pm.

[can-do-man]

We think over 40 years, not sure though, do know its been over 30. their kinda baseing by it the damage. And yes im on either starting week 20 or 21. For the most part can't complain. Few bad weeks. But overall not bad. Found out by having a checkup at family doctors. Was only having fatigue, so went in checked me over and drew some blood and found out. And then id think every little ache or pain was due to hep-c. Thats normal. Bx. went smooth. Worse part was knowing and waiting. Geno type 1a. Try not to stress it to much. Hard not to but you find out alot of the time the stress is for nothing. This is a slow moving virus in almost all. And even at stage 4 me and my doc don't think i'm going kick the bucket real fast. Most people here are not stage 4 but think they know all about being stage 4. Good luck to you and you will be fine.

[can-do-man]

I agree, people try that scare tatic and we know only very few it hits hard early. I mean most people don't have heart attacks until later in life. But there are a few who do early. But do we start saying because your now 18 you might have the big one. Some people just want to disagree with anything thats said. And why i don't know. Maybe built up anger.

[Alady1620]

I'm taking the Protease Inhibitor called NM283 along with Interferon.  I cleared the virus at my 12 week check.

The only problems I've had are standard treatment sides.  It really hasn't been that bad.