longer

[diane128]

hi guys me again today was my 48th shot was told today by doctor to do three more treatments for reassurance has anybody heard of this?  

[eureka254]

Geno type 1 is especially challenging if you are on Peg-Interferon and Ribavirin.  If you did not clear the virus by week 12 of your treatment, there's higher likelihood of relapse if you quit now at 48 than if you were to go another 24 weeks.  Certainly many factors should be weighed in, but as Aaron points out, if you are tolerating treatment well, it's in your interests to continue to raise your odds of success... especially important as a stage 3.  (However, if you did not clear by week 24, you should not be continuing at all.)   However, if you were clear by week 4, protocol usually would have you stop at 48 weeks.

I believe in the power of prayer, Diane, but I also believe the Lord gives us the opportunities we need to have in front of us... and sometimes it takes not just praying, but doing too... good luck whichever way you go!

[Aaron57]

For us G1's Diane , if you are feeling ok , Sx not too terrible ... and you can afford it .. in my opinion only .. no doctors here ... I'd go for the extra shots ... your doctor recommended them , we know G1 is tough to treat .. so a little extra time with the meds .. makes sense to me ... but thats just my thinking ... I will also extend past 48 Wks. as long as my Sx & CBC's stay apx. like they are ... tmrw shot # 41 ....

What week of treatment did you get to Undetected ?

This helps to decide how long to extend .. for example if you were positive at Wk. 8 but Und at Wk 12 ... my doc suggest to go at least 40 wks after first Und = 52 wks ... some suggest 48 wks after the first Wk. Und ... either way the odds of getting SVR increase the longer we treat .. but so do the chances of something happening from the Interferon ... it's a nasty drug ....

Cheers & Good wishes on getting your SVR !!

[diane128]

yea three more shots

[diane128]

u sound just like my symptons are also G1

[Aaron57]

Do you know apx. which week during Tx you were Und?

By "three more treatments" .. do you mean 3 more shots ??

There are other studies besides the Sanchez-Tapias study that have been conducted in the recent years that do recommend extending Tx depending on which week you were determined to be Und ..

I am G1a , slow VL reduction at Wk.4 ... but, got to Und at Wk. 12 ... the docs are recommending adding 8-12 weeks after I finish my 48 .. for a total of 56-60 Wks ... it will depend on my CBC's and how I feel if I decide to extend ... if possible I will ...

It does seem the longer we Tx the higher the odds of attaining SVR ... especially for those of us that are G1's ....

[nygirl7]

If you were not clear by week 12 but were clear by week 24 then protocol is 72 weeks on SOC.  That is what happened to me.

[diane128]

no i was not clear early but i pray everyday

[nygirl7]

Ask your doctor what study he is using to base this decision on.  The only studied protocols are the 48 or going to 72 as per Sanchez Tapias study.

I'm assuming you were not clear early?