If left untreated after many years of infection about 20% of those infected for 20 years develop serious liver damage and liver cirrhosis. If still untreated a person with cirrhosis can either die from advanced liver cirrhosis or possibly develop liver cancer.
So yes hep c in some cases will progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer which can cause death without liver transplant.
But most people live many years with hep c with only minor symptoms with the most commonly reported being tiredness. Others will develop extrahepatic symptoms which while not fatal can reduce quality of life.
However there have been huge strides made in treatment for Hepatitis c over the last few years. New medicines have been developed which are well tolerated by most patients and are highly effective with cure rates as high as 98 to 100% Treatment can be as simple as one pill a day for as few as 8 weeks and the person can be cured of Hepatitis c infection and never have to face the possible consequences of long term hep c infection.
Get tested, get treated, get cured! Fight hep C