How many times have you done treatment?

[KAMO]

I have been treated twice (48 weeks)  for Hep C....genotype 1 stage 1.  Both times I've treated I cleared the virus but it's come back within 3 months of being off meds.  My new doctor has put retreating out there after we get the results of my second liver biopsy.  Has anyone treated more than twice with a positive outcome?

[KAMO]

Thank you for all your comments.  My doctor did talk about extending to 72.  My previous doctors said "sorry, not much else we can do for you."  This new doctor seems to at least be willing to try something else.  It all depends on the results of my next biopsy on April 24th.  If things haven't changed since the last one 5 years ago, she's not in a hurry to do anything.

Good luck to all of you!

[FullOfHope77]

Wow! Susan, I either forgot or never picked it up that you've done tx so many times. I knew Eric was the king of TX but you're the queen... :)

Eric, I know that you will find that you are still clear... I have confidence in my heart that is the case. Keep the faith!

Kamo, Seems you and your doc may want to talk about extending SOC to 72 and see if that will do it. You're Stage 1 and sounds in great shape. Telaprevir will be available by '10 it appears and if this don't do it you may try that.

(I loaded up on the stock while it's been cheap and expecting a very nice return and already seeing some... the high 20's will pay for a year of my life much less the low 40's we saw last year)

[Andiamo1]

I treated 8 times.  The treatments 6 and 7 were with the latest SOC.  Both of those times, I experienced a two log drop by week 12 and undetectable by week 24; both times I relapsed within two weeks.  This last time (Prove 3 Telaprevir) ended last week; I went from 8,000,000 at the start to <30 at week 1 and undetectable at week 2.  I remained undetectable for 48 weeks while on treatment.  It remains to be seen if this will be sustained.

I have my post 2 week test next week and I am very nervous about that.

Eric

[susan400]

Ask Andiamo!  He just got done clearing on the Prove 3 trial on his 8th time!  I've treated 9 times, haven't yet cleared, however, I have managed to avoid getting cirrhotic, so I find that a plus.  If you consider that I am up to bridging fibrosis and have treated 9 times, I think that by now, after all these years, if I had not treated, that I would definitely be cirrhotic by now.  Not all of these treatments have been for 48 or more weeks.  On a few of them, I was stopped before I was allowed to go any further.  For example, when I was on Prove 3, I was pulled off on week 5 because I hadn't cleared by the week 4 requirement.  On the treatment before that, I was pulled off by my doctor at week #44 because I hadn't yet cleared.  The first time I did Infergen back in 1998, I was only kept on that for 6 mon before I was stopped.  I used to have 2 genotypes.  I was 1A and 1B.  Now, the 1B has been wiped out.  So, I do think that the treatments have had their benefit in me, even w/o clearing the virus.  

Susan