24 VS.48 WEEKS TX

[chevyelcam79]

Im sure this has been posted prior but..... I've been thinking(with some help, u know who u are)...  

here is my scenerio:  1A begin vl of 26,000. Stage 2 inflammation grade 2-3 fibrosis (I think thats right)  UND at week 2 and have continued to stay that way yipee.  tx 180 mcg and 1000 mg riba.  Doc has decided to let me do 24 weeks tx.  Only two more weeks to go.  Female, 140ish lbs. good health(cept for this), caucasion, 41 yo.  the doc said that with all of these factors, there is a very slim chance that I will relapse.

Bloodwork not too bad; last month WBC 1010, hemo 11.3.  Not feeling too bad, did have the throat thing going on not too far back but all in all, not too bad.  The doc did decrease shot to 135 when I continued to have the throat thing.

I do go to a hepatologist at John Hopkins University. supposed to be one of the best and not at all doubting that.

Any studies out there that show 24 wks as opposed to 48 with the above factors?  I guess Ive been thinking and I realize that the next 6 months I will be terrified that I will relapse.  Who in their right mind wouldnt?  

Anything that I should be concerned about?

Thanks for the input!
Shari

[goldenrule]

http://www.natap.org/2005/AASLD/aasld_55.htm
here is another...
hope you have a nice one too...
so you have one more shot to go after this weekend??

[chevyelcam79]

thanks!  Have a great weekend!
Shari

[goldenrule]

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2006/062306_a.html

here is one link. i just recently moved and all my paperwork is still packed away. I will hunt for it over the weekend..

[chevyelcam79]

Thanks!  I hope that I am making the right decision.  Will talk to doc on the 19th.  

Yes, information if you can find time to get it to me would be great

Shari

[goldenrule]

My base Vl was 899 and was an RVR. 1a female with little to no liver damage. i did 36 weeks of tx and as of October 2007, iam SVR... I will look for the studies when I get off work to give you some info to read up on. Bottom line is that there are not a whole lot of studies out there to support 1a's stopping treatment early. But the ones that are out are very convincing and were enough to give me peace of mind. I wanted to stop at week 24 but chickened out. However, once i started having sides from He** I stopped.. Had no choice... Why dont you consider doing a little more than 24 weeks just to be sure. From what I ahve read, and people I have talked to, 24 weeks was enough.... and 48 weeks would of been too much... For myself, the sides and riba rage were unbearable. I could not even imagine going 48....
7 months post, I am feeling great and loving life. Back to my old self again and LOVING it!!

[nygirl7]

I would never advise anybody to stop treatment early who is almost a stage 3.  That's a lot to think about.

The first time you do treatment is the time you have the BEST chance at beating it.  If you relapse it will be harder next time to achieve the same thing.

Nobody knows why someone relapses or has a breakthrough after being UND but it happens all of the time. You aren't having that hard a time with treatment...why is it worth the chance of only doing half the course?  Even going by the old HALTC ideals...UND plus 36 weeks........You are not there at all?

I think your crazy but I hope it works for you and you remain clear.