stage 3 liver disease

[pattydog204]

I just got my results for my liver biopsy and it said I had stage 3 fibrosis in my liver, can anyone tell me what this means?

I had a blood trans. in 1972 dx with HC about 15 years ago,I didn't get treatment before as I was waiting for a less toxic treatment. My dr. said there is a new treatment with a higher sucess rate. My viral loads are over 1 million.

Any answers you can give me will be so appreciated.

Pat

[pattydog204]

I was like you, I kept waitng for a less toxic drug, but with the new drug I am going to go for it.

Thank you for your reply.

Pat

[pattydog204]

I am genotype 1, the doctor said it is the hardest to respond to treatment, used to be 40% sucess now he tells me with the new drug there is a 85 to 90% sucess.

I am going to go for the treatment if my doctor tells me it will help.

Thank you for your post.

Pat

[jsf52]

Welcom to the forum.  I also have Stage 3 fibrosis.  I was one of those people who didn't treat early on as I kept waiting for something better.  My recommendation is to work with a Hepatologist who is well versed in treatment and keeps up with what is going on in this battle to cure Hep C.  At Stage 3, you want to treat sooner so that your liver damage is arrested.  

The folks on this site are an amazing source of knowledge and support. Many have achieved a cure from Hep C and others like me have treated but are still struggling for the cure to find us.  I treated in 2010 for 12 weeks with Interferon and Ribavirin and was a non responder and then got into a Gilead trial in 2011 and treated for 11 weeks and had to stop due to a viral breakthrough (my viral load went up due to the virus developing resistance to the treatment drugs).  While I didn't receive a cure I know that my liver got a break both times and I am hoping that this gives me the time to wait for the combo that will cure me.  Good luck with treatment.

[stormy456]

Welcome to the community.  You will find some very knowledgeable and caring people here who will be able to offer terrific guidance.  Your doctor is correct that there are some new drugs that are having great success rates.  Do you know your genotype?  That's something that you'll want to find out in order to determine the best treatment options for you.  While there are newer, theoretically better treatments in the pipeline, the general consensus is that they're 3-5 years away.  My husband biopsy showed his liver at an F2, and being a genotype 1b, felt now was the time to treat.

He completes the first half of his tx tonight, and it really hasn't been terrible.  Don't let some of the posts you'll read here discourage you from treating while you're still healthy.  As someone pointed out to me when I first joined this community - the people that are not having a hard time are not taking the time to post for the most part.  It's the people that are facing challenges and looking for advice and support that we hear from the most.

The best advice I can give you is to educate yourself because you are your own best advocate.

[crossroadsec]

That first biopsy is an eye opener. Sry to hear ur at S3. I was diagnosed at 4 n denied tx. You're in great shape to begin w the new drugs. Damage will progress. The hospital that finally took me on has been great n liver enzymes r down! Meld score cut in 1/2 and moved from ESLD.
I'm so new n only know what I've learned here. But w diet changes, the tx is working!
You'll find a ton of info in the archives. Lots of options for you. You're w a hematologist, right? Welcome Pat. And good luck! Karen :)