When to stop treatment????

[Mimi4141]

Hello again!  I just wanted to thank everyone for being here.  The information we have gained has been so helpful!!!

Today the doctor (he was coving for a regular GI) was telling my husband he should think about stopping treatment.  He is stage 4 cirrhosis, Hep C 1b.  Pre treatment viral load was 2 million, 12-week viral load 275, 19 week viral load 59, all done with the Hepamax.  The doctor said that since he did not clear at 12 weeks his chances were less than 5% for the medication to work. He is on pegasys 180 mg + ribavirin 1200mg a day.  

I do know that it was not good that he was undetectable at week 12, but I did not know that his chances were that bad.  The doctor did not seem very positive about his response to treatment and stated that he was not a very good candidate for treatment from the start due his platelet count.  However, his platelets were within normal limits the last lab draw.

Does any one have any information on what he should do?  He has gotten very sick, but is a fighter and refused to stop treatment.  The doctor said that he would not test the viral load again until week 48.  I thought that after someone reaches undetectable the treatment would continue for another 26-28 weeks, or something like that.  

Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated.

Airborne's wife

[NYgirl]

I was not clear until somewhere between week 12 and 24 (I was at 400 the whole time before) and my doctor would NOT let me quit until I waited until 24.  So...I may have to treat longer but I DID clear the virus (so far) and THAT is the whole goal.

I wouldn't consider with such LOW numbers quitting until 24, after all he is responding and there is ALWAYS A CHANCE.  Unless the odds were ZERO then he can still do it right.

[jmjm530]

I agree that he should definitely have a week 24 PCR before any decisions are made.

[strator]

I don't understand completely about the different percentages at 12 and 24. I do know that I'm 1a,on 180peg and 1000mg riba. I had a starting VL of 18.7million. 12wk 391,000, 24wk 3140. 39wk undetectable down to 50. My dr from the beginning said as long as you can tolerate treatment you do 48wks.
I have no idea how low my chances may be of SVR. But right now there is less or no virus, and hopefully less stress on the body and liver.
I'm am a stage 1-2, not a stage 4 like your husband. I'm in no position to know how much more that may affect his situation. I'm in no position and certainly not knowledgeable enough to say whether continuing is the right choice fo your husband. But if he is responding, and he is a stage 4, I would certainly think that exploring all options even if the dr doesn't agree is your husbands choice. Personally, who is the dr to take the 5percent chance away from someone, unless they feel treatment will do more bad than good.
I hope those here that understand and have more relative experience to your husband are able to help you.
I wish you and your husband well,
Don

[NYgirl]

I don't even LISTEN to the odds cause like I said there is ALWAYS a chance, even if it is 1 in 99 I will FIGHT to be that ONE until I know I am not.

Please don't give up.

Strator it is so good to see you posting....I have a feeling that you and I will be around here for a long while fighting away!  :)

Has anybody seen my little Beagle dog? Here Beagle beagle beagle.....here beagle beagle beaagle...............

[Bill1954]

Mimi,

This is an excerpt from a HCV treatment algorithm provided by the Cleveland Clinic:

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/hcv/cma.htm

[52TELE]

"even if it is 1 in 99 I will FIGHT to be that ONE
until I know I am not."

ME TOO! my new slogan , "I will not go quietly"