stopping at 20 weeks

[seekerdc]

i'm geno 2 and in 15th week of 24 week tx.  i had rvr at week 4 from a starting vl of 10,000,000.
i'm thinking about stopping treatment at week 20.  my hcv nurse doesn't seem to think this would be a problem.

Any thoughts or experience from folks in the forum?

just anxious to get this over with, but also don't want to jeopardize chances for svr.

thanks

[FlGuy]

There are some G2's here who have achieved svr in as few as 12 weeks.  There are some who have relapsed after 24. It's a roll of the dice.  You either will or you won't.

[HCA]

You previously stated that your week 4 result was 2500.
Today you say you were RVR UND at week 4.
Which is it ?
The nurse cannot authorise you to stop treatmenrt-it is an issue for the doctor.
In my view you should complete the treatment.

[greygravel]

I am G2 and completed tx 4 years ago, sadly I relapsed after 6 months post tx.

I now have borderline cirrhosis and am on wk 4 of 48wk re-tx.

You have done 15 wks just hang in there, only another 9 weeks why chance it?

[newleaf09]

They have done lots of studies trying to see if the good responders like 2's and 3's could be treated successfully in shorter time periods.  It all came down to 'It's successful for some'.  If it were me I wouldn't want to risk being one of the ones a shorter time period was not successful for.  I'd finish it out as a near guarantee of never having to start it up again.

[ladybug52]

I am a geno type 2 that stopped tx early. I was und at week 3 through week 15. When I stopped at week 16, I knew that I might relapse and was prepared to live with the consequences......but I ask myself now, if I didn't achieve svr, how pi$$ed  would I be at myself for quitting early?? To start tx all over again from week one would be worse than just doing 8 more weeks.

Having said that, I think the decision is totally up to you. Sure you have the medical professionals advise, but you have to live with tx and yourself. Think it over carefully, and be ready to live with the consequences.

Good luck,be honest with yourself...if you weren't und at week 4, you're taking a big risk.

Bug

[Lindaz]

Hi

I am geno 2 and have just a few shots to go before I would of completed 24 weeks.  I personally wouldn't stop treatment earlier.
Whatever you decided, I wish you all the best
take care
Linda x

[Joey_M]

Hi

I completed 24 weeks for GT3a about 8 weeks ago. Given your initial viral load, it seems to make sense to aim for 24 weeks. What i did to get through the last few weeks was to tell myself I could quit next week and give myself that option - and each week would decide to do one more. I also cut back my riba at week 20 by one pill per day and that helped me feel a bit better (maybe psychologically).

I think your probability of SVR by stopping early with GT2 goes down a small amount but how would you psychologically deal a relapse if you quit early vs sticking it out?

Good luck
Joey

[chuckles333]

I'm genotype 2 as well. I completed my 24 weeks of torture, although, as you get closer to the end, it becomes harder. You start thinking "what's an extra four weeks". Well if you relapse later you'll think it was my own bad choice rather than that the treatment was unsuccessful. I wouldn't want to deal with that. I would hate myself for being so weak. That being said, Britian has approved a 16 wk treatment for early responders saying that in early respoders the SRV rate differs only by 5% in 16 vs 24 wks. With my luck I'd be one of the 5%. Do you feel lucky? In any case talk to your hepatologist first.

[Marcia2202]

I just wanted to add that the EU has approved 16 weeks of treatment for geno 2 and 3

ONLY IF

if they start with a LOW viral load (400.000 and below)

and if RVR (undetected by 4 weeks)


You do not belong into that group, as you started with a high viral load!

[nygirl7]

I don't know where my post went but if you had 2500 at week 4 it wasn't RVR and you should definitely continue until week 24.  It's not worth the gamble. Some of us have treated for 72 weeks and we know how hard it is but getting every bit of the odds on your side is worth the time and the effort.

[Himmy]

I am on week 19 and  was hep c free at 4 weeks {undetectable} I am geno 3 ..my doctor wants me to go the full 24 weeks and I have no problem with that ..i'm just happy to be able to have the chance of beating this and wouldnt do something that would stop this dream from coming true ...don't be silly ...finish your treatment :)