Natalie Cole

[jt57]

I'm watching her with Larry King.  She is really bashing interferon.   Not a very good advocaate for todays soc....I really wish she would not blame the interferon so publicly.  Just because she had some problems does not mean everyone does.  I knew upfront that this tx can cause kidney issues in some folks.  She is talking like "the doctors don't tell you...."   Whats up with her?

Jean

[merryBe]

JT, I agree, she needs to keep in mind her bashing is going to cost more lives than it saves. In does cure 50% of type 1's, and 80-90% of type 2.3.and 4's.
What should she say then to those 900,000 out of a million that got cured with type 4?
Die of liver disease...don't take the medicine.

The Riba is a much bigger culprit of kidney issues than the INF. In fact one study showed much higher SVR's for those given increased riba dosing...but a 20% kidney failure at the higher dosages....so blaming the INF entirely is a mistake.

I watched my dad die while treating for INF. He was still a relatively young man with young children. No other treatment had helped anyone with his form of lymphoma.
Should he have not even tried?
Should all the people who have gotten free of a killer disease not have?

You know, life is scary, and it isn't always fair, but for me at least, I read what end stage liver disease was all about....and I watched a friend die of it.
Give me the INF any day over that. We pays our money, we takes our chances.

Even if someone means well...and I'm not saying Ms. Cole doesn't, does she realize she will create twice as many gullable fearful folks, rushing to spend hundreds each month on close to useless supplements because the cure can and does cause major problems for a few?  The stats are than less than 1% have the major complications....minor ones abound but most clear up after tx...so right now boosting the body's own supply of natural interferon is still a key bullet in the arsenal.

Remember our bodies make this stuff anyway....that's why we feel so bad when we get a flu...because our spleen is making more INF's to fight it.

Let's be realistic in here. THIS viris....the HCV virus, is the only one in history, so far, that medicine has been able to find and actual cure for those already infected.!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure if Ms. Cole understands what a major medical milestone that is....defeating this insidiuos virus. In my mind we should be celebrating the millions of saved livers and restored lives, not belly aching because we suffered some reprocussions.

mb

[fretboard]

I didn't watch the interview so I have nothing to say about it, except.  The only thing I've heard that makes any sense is:
Natalie Cole is nowhere near the “sharpest knife in the drawer.”  poor lady, she has to go thru all that tx and doesn't seem to know much about it.  I can only guess that her kidneys were beginning to go out prior to tx.  Here's an article I came across.


February 11, 2009

Son’s Kidney May Save Natalie Cole
Hepatitis C survivor Natalie Cole may receive a much needed kidney transplant from her son.
Natalie Cole's Son to Donate Kidney to Mom
BY: Actress Archives | Thursday, February 5, 2009

Proving that he's a son that really knows how to step up to the plate for his mom, it's been reported that Natalie Cole's son may give her one of his kidneys. Cole was diagnosed with Hepatitis C about a year ago and now it seems she might need a kidney transplant, which would finally put an end to the dialysis treatments she goes through three times a week.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the Grammy Salute to Jazz on Tuesday (Cole is nominated for three Grammys for her 2008 album "Still Unforgettable") she said, "My son [Robert,] may be a possible match. It's very sweet and kind of strange to have people offer something like that." Cole explained that while does not look forward to the recuperation time she'll need to take after the surgery, "in the end it'll be worth it." Her son Robert is 31 years old.
In September of last year, Natalie Cole spoke openly about her struggle with Hepatitis C, which doctors told her she contracted from sharing needles in the eighties when she was a heroin addict. Shedding light on her new health routine, Cole said, "I give myself a weekly injection of chemotherapy in my thigh. When I started in May, I thought I was dying. I couldn't get out of bed for three weeks - literally. I was nauseous every day. I lost 15 pounds from not eating."
Upon learning about the illness, which remained dormant in her body for twenty-five years, Cole says, "My life crumbled before my eyes." She added, "I've learned a lot of lessons. Yes, I could have handled some things better. But they've also made me who I am today."
Cole's illness didn't stop her from touring the world last year. Said Cole, "I've never been through anything like this. I love what I do so much. I just keep going. Nothing can bring me down."

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2009/02/sons_kidney_may.html

[jt57]

we all have our opinions.  

[GreatBird]

She has the right not to be a poster-child for HepC or tx or whatever she wants. In fact, considering how uninformed she apparently is, that's a good thing.

As to quitting a tour . . . she's a performer--it's what she does. She has made a commitment to the ticketholders and promoters etc., and as much as I'm sure she'd love to come off dialysis and all that, she's honoring her relationship with her fans.

I think too many of you are being tough on her.

[jt57]

I agree with you.  The whole interview just did not seem to bode well for advocating hep c tx.  I think with any disease, you should arm yourself with as much info as possible before injecting any kind of drugs into your system.  Doesn't sound to me like Natalie did any research.  Just depended on people to "tell her".  If most of us had done that, we may not have made it through treatment.  I really appreciate how this board has educated me and helped me tremendously through my tx.  Now at wk 36, I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel.  i could possibley be cured and wish this for everyone with hep c.  That is why her interview offended me.  She spoke in generalities, and NOT everyone is goind to have kidney issues.  We are all different.

And yes, if she is given a kidney, she should take it then, and BE GRATEFUL!!!

Jean

[can-do-man]

Didn't see it either, but i would hope my ego would never get so big that people would offer me a gift of life and i would be more worried about going on tour. Something she can do at anytime. People that offer to donate their organs should not be taken lightly.

I wonder if she takes a turn for the worse which will be more important??? One should never look a gift horse in the mouth.......... Just my thoughts.