Same as chemo?

[nationsgirl]

I was reading some articles about Casey Treat, a well known pastor in WA who was diagnosed with Hep C after getting a general physical.  He was only given a 4% chance for responding to tx...I'm not sure what stage/grade he was in at that time.  

He lost 10 lbs and lost his hair.  In an article he had talked about the chemotherapy.  I was wondering if he had something different from the interferon and rib or do people consider these 2 drugs ad "being like chemo"?  Can you help to answer that question?

[SouthernSunshine]

Do most people on this treatment lose their hair?  I have read that side effects may be some hair thinning.  Is this real common or is it just in some cases?

[lilmoma]

I have read where many of the women here lose about 40-60% of their hair. My started coming out at about week 15. Mostly it's breaking off about 3-4 from the root, the bottom 5 inches of my hair is baby fine now. My doc told me that is more common among women than men to lose hair on tx. It breaks my heart, but I have to put my vanity in my back pocket right now. It grows back, and I have even read some cases of where the new growth was much healthier than what they started out with.
I am trying to hang on to these kinds of thoughts,...I kind of look like I have "ducky fur" for hair.

[Kalio1]

It is not like the hair loss seen with other chemos for most people, you don't have it falll out totally, it is more like a steady shedding of more than the average amount. You can tell you are losing hair for sure, it is definately a noticeable amount to you, but most others looking at you can't tell. I am sure some have it fall out more dramatically, some not as much, but the norm (if anything can be normal on this tx) seems to be heavy shedding. You don't get patches of bald spots, etc.some don't have any hair loss.
Everyone responds differently, so you can't know how it will go for you ahead of time.

[nationsgirl]

I'd really like to know how many really have their hair thin as a side affect as well?

[jmjm530]

Chemothreapy stands for chemcial (drug) therapy. Pretty much anything qualifies as chemotherapy a very general way, even taking a Tylenol. But obviously each type of "chemo" is different. While treating, I told a couple of friends I was on "chemo". Sort of a compromise between saying nothing or saying I was treating for Hep C.

-- Jim

[Kalio1]

There aren't definate answers to your questions but I have heard "approx" 40% of people who treat with combo therapy for Hep C experience mild or no symptoms, the rest with "moderate to severe" symptoms.
As to hair loss, I was told "most" experience SOME hair loss. My experience has been that you do have hair loss, but others can not notice it but you sure can. My pony tail can take a whole extra wrap now, so I guess total loss for 10 months of tx is about a quarter to a third. No one has noticed, people have even commented my hair looks better! Shows you I probably should have been having my hair thinned at the salon if it looks better now!
I know the hair loss thing is very scary, I too was stressed over that happening but the reality is not nearly as bad as my fears.