Wait until summer (when school is out) to begin Hep C treatment?

[stravis]

I was diagnosed with Hep C six weeks after back surgery in 1993. After a few months of not feeling well then, I have been great ever since. I've been followed for the last 18 years, but have always ignored the doc's advice to get treatment since liver numbers have always been great, and I didn't want to go through all of the side effects of treatment.  I am also a 4 year breast cancer survivor and had to change oncologists last year because of a change in insurance. My new oncologist treats many liver cancer patients, and he has convinced me I really should pursue treatment.  I am finally listening and have been through all of the pre-tests (heart, eyes, bloodwork) and have been cleared for treatment.  I'm all set to begin in a couple of weeks, but now am reconsidering waiting until school is out in June (I teach 3rd grade in a small charter school, and it is my first year at this school).  Anyone out there have any thoughts about starting now or delaying treatment until June?

[can-do-man]

If one is only going to be on peg and riba then i would start right away for the reasons noted.......... I take it your not a genotype 1?

Of course this is just my opinion from my prior treatments and how many others seem to fare.

[stravis]

Thanks so much for the input so far! My doctor has only ordered Pegintron and Ribavirin. Would that change anyone's input? The point that leebambee made above seems to make sense about counts not dropping for 3 months or so, so that would be more like to hit in early summer...  Any more thoughts about that?

[can-do-man]

If your going to being using one of the new PI's the timing might be more important...... It seems with Incivek it hits you hard from the very start so waiting might be a good ideal..... With Victrelis it seems to be more of a drag later on in treatment so starting now might be the best that way school will be out when it becomes the worst........ Of course everyone is different, wishing you the best.

[working dog]

i would make a plan for anything and everything you can think of that could happen....you might feel ok...there are teachers here that keep teaching....i would think it would be tough in most cases....as tx moves through different phases....tx's not the same all the time....bad days and good days....some days more mental and some more physical....i would talk with your doctor about this like when to bring in rescue drugs to make tx easier or even possible .....stay on the forum and ask questions...i think do tx summer and fall if you can wait...go back to work in jan next year if you can...good luck...billy

[marty59]

I was not able to work while taking the incivek. It was actually 3-4 weeks after the incivek that I felt well enough to consider work.

[EyesofBlue55]

Being an employee of a school system also,This is why I am waiting.Everyone is different as far as sides but better to be prepared with a plan before you proceed.How many weeks do you have in the summer?How many weeks are you gonna treat?Do you have a disability policy and/or sick days you can use??? Careful planning is  a must...cindy