Did I make the Right Decision

[Bernyh]

Hello Everyone
First I would want to salute all of you,and wish you the best! In this struggle
Yesterday I got my results of the biopsy
Stage 1-2
Viral Load is 400,000 in Jan 300,000
My doc suggest I do treatment  since he believes
I could be cure at a high perfect
I understand some of Triple Therapy Combo
Great News I was approval for treatment
my copay is 25% but I did  apply for coupons  waiting on the return phone to see how much less
I'm managing a healthy diet
Do you y'all think I'm making the right choice
Is there anything else I need to consider
Thanks again

[Bernyh]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/presidio-pharmaceuticals-reports-progress-hepatitis-110000350.html

[Bernyh]

Sorry I haven't rely back sooner but wanted to thank you all
Well here's what been going on
I wasn't accepted for this Presidio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  PPI-668 Trial
Cause of my low viral load count again at 300k
But still on the waiting list for the 7977 no sure bet that I will get in
And looks like I did qualify for assistance which helps with the copay now is Zero but takes 5-10 days to process
Also I join a kinda support group in my area
Was surprise when people doing the triple treatment feel better after days or weeks with treatment since you hear alot about the bad side effects and how awful it is gives me hope
Wishing everyone the gift of good health
Berny

[tanya24]

I fully agree with Gonnab...I am 43 years old and have had this virus for approx. 30 to 36 years with no complications other than fluctuating liver counts now and then, and fatigue. My biopsy just now for the first time ever after all these years, showed progression to stage 2/grade 2 and an increasing vl. To treat or not is a personal decision, but one should educate themselves on all of the options out there before making that decision. Personally, my doctor has stated, along with many other professionals, the all oral drugs w/ No Interferon, and virtually no side effects are the way of the future for Hep C, and will hopefully be on market within three years. They are in trial right now and people are getting cured by them already! Please reference some of the threads on my profile if you are interested in learning more about this. God Bless

[pooh55811]

"The costs of the two therapies are similar, provided patients remain on the drugs as long as permitted. The price of telaprevir is $49,200 for the course of treatment, and boceprevir costs between $26,400 and $48,400 for the full course. Those prices do not include the cost of pegylated interferon and ribavirin."

http://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2011/08/use-of-new-hcv-protease-inhibitors-not.html

This article includes other comparisons between the two drugs as well.

[orphanedhawk]

I keep repeating over and over, and I'll do it again, viral load has nothing to do with liver damage.
Viral loads fluctuate so yours changing by 100,000 means nothing.

When I was diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis, mine was 750,000 which is considered low.
What is important is your fibrosis.

Since you do not have full insurance coverage, and you are treatment naive, you might want to consider a clinical trial where all your costs are covered. The new interferon free oral treatment is looking very promising.
Waiting for the orals to become available is a gamble. Despite predictions, it could be longer than many think.

As far as what to do in the mean time, obviously don't drink alcohol, do eat healthy, and drink lots of coffee.

[willbb]

It is always the right choice to treat HCV.

The personal descision is  "when " and with what?
Currently the  proven therapy of  INF/Riba  and either Vic or Inci have  approx. a 75% chance of success with a  good probability of treating for 24 weeks

With St 1-2 (mild to moderate liver damage fibrosis) you would have the option of waiting until there are possibly even more treatment options in the future that may have even better efficacy and may  not include Interferon.
No one knows when these modalities may be avail ,however "speculation would indicate within 3 to 5 years.

Could your liver be chirrotic by then...possibly or possibly not .. that is something no one can tell you with any certainty.

Again...when to treat and with what is always a very personal desicion,one best made with in depth discussion with a knowledgeable doctor experienced with HCV and its treament paradigms..

Good luck with your desicion..

Will

.

[indy531]

I am 1 week away from completion-und since wk 4 w/Vic. Stage 0-treat! You may never know regarding health care in the future, accleration of  disease, why would you want that hanging over your head? I'm glad I did even tho I've lost 50% of my hair, have anemia for 7 mos and a burnt out thyroid-at least my liver is well.

[jules2551]

Stage 1-2?  I think I would personally wait for the all oral drugs without interfeon.  JMHO.  I wouldn't jump in with both feet now

[pooh55811]

I am at stage 2 fibrosis and I chose to treat with triple tx (with Incivek). I have had Hep C for 30-35 years and I don't know how much longer it will be before I move to the next stages (which are harder to treat).

Incivek is expensive. But Boceprevir is not cheap. Depending on how long a person treats, the two drugs are comparable in price.

Incivek is taken for 12 weeks only and it costs about $50,000. You have to take Bocep longer than you take Inc. So that adds to the cost. Plus, if you have to treat 48 weeks, it ends up being about the same. I saw a cost comparison and will try to find it.

I think there are patient assistance programs for all threee drugs, Inc., Riba, and Peg.

Incivek:
htthttp://www.incivek.com/vertex-guidance-patient-support

Pegasys:
http://www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/portal/site/AS/menuitem.7ef3b8542d7c63460313edacd79c23a0/?vgnextoid=ad7b1d41003c9210VgnVCM100000d70bf60aRCRD

http://www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/portal/site/AS/menuitem.7ef3b8542d7c63460313edacd79c23a0/?vgnextoid=abfa1d41003c9210VgnVCM100000d70bf60aRCRD

http://www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/portal/site/AS/menuitem.7ef3b8542d7c63460313edacd79c23a0/?vgnextoid=5f0495bfd9355310VgnVCM1000004d8f2248RCRD&vgnextchannel=73df48a5cf199210VgnVCM100000d70bf60aRCRD

[gonnabhepcfree]

I don't mean to be negative I just hope your well aware of all the possible consequences of your decision.  

[gonnabhepcfree]

I can't imagine why you would choose to treat with triple at a time when the are All oral studies available considering you low viral load.  Do you know the side effects and the possible long term side effects.  Is your Dr a gastro or a hepatologist?  You can always treat with SOC.  Everyone is different but having had the disease for 39 plus years and waiting till this year because it took my that long to get to stage 3  I really don't understand why you would treat now.  Just my opinion you asked for it.  Good luck whatever you decide.  BTW.. I am in a clincial trial cleared the virus in 7 days with NO SIDE EFFECTS and will have my 12 week post treatment test next week.
I also worked at the VA Medical Center drawing blood for many years on patients before during and after treatemnt with SOC and saw first hand what it did to the quality of life during and sometimes after.  

[crigger]

I am on treatment and I think I have made the right decission. Read every thing you can about treatment. Do not be afraid to ask question. Ask your Doc if you can email him during treatment it works really well .  Waiting for return calls is a *****. Write things down that you want to ask your DR. You will forget things. Get copys of all your labs.  Come to this forum as much as you can.. ask question. There are a lot of well read people here.   Good luck with treatment !

[80mecheng]

I am Geno type 1, VL was 1.06million and likely have had this for 40 yrs. and  Biopsy was stg 1-2.  My doctor and a friend who is a Hep C researcher at John Hopkins recommended to treat.  Cure rates are much higher than they use to be with 3X but the treatment is grueling.  It's a personal decision but I am 1 week away from completing the 28 week cycle (I was a rapid responder on Vic) and am clear and would do it again but hopefully not.

[Idyllic]

♪Hi welcome to MedHelp♫ Do you mean deciding to treat your HCV right now? I would apply for the 100% Virtual Co-Pay card from Incivek (if that is the med you are going to use) since even 25% of most co-pays for that particular med is still quite a bit of money. I believe the other med (Boceprevir) is extremely in inexpensive.

Lemme see if I can find the site I am referring to..
http://www.incivek.com/copay-assistance-program
_____________________________

Anyway, the only person who can evaluate whether you made the right decision is you. All I can offer is what I would do if I were in your boat.
In my case, I would treat while I have the resilience to recover from the side effects of the meds and I had a good chance of a decent fight. Not knowing your job situation or the kind of support you have from a (possible) significant other, friends &/or family I can't really comment on that. I guess just not knowing more of the facts I would treat. You might want to post a little more about your healthy and current life circumstances in order for someone else to help you. ♫