- PEGASYS is the most prescribed pegylated interferon.
- PEGASYS offers unparalleled support through a comprehensive patient-support program known as Pegassist®. The program includes a 24-hour nurse hotline, an interactive customizable patient support site at Pegassist.com, and Pegassist print materials. (We also provide lots of information and tools for healthcare professionals.)
We know that having hepatitis C treatment isn't easy. That's why we provide honest answers to your questions and all the support we can during treatment.
It may be tempting to put off treatment altogether. Seventy percent of people who have chronic hepatitis C infection go on to have chronic liver disease. The course of treatment can be difficult for many people, and it always seems easier to do nothing—to wait until a better, more convenient time in the future. But ask yourself these questions:
- Have there ever been better, more successful treatments available for hepatitis C?
- Will I ever be stronger, healthier, more ready to take on prescription treatment than I am right now?
- Is there a way to accurately predict how fast my hepatitis C will advance?
- What can happen if hepatitis C is not treated?
The answer to the first question is easy. There has never been better treatment available. We know more about hepatitis C than we ever have, and treatment has made truly significant progress.
The answer to the second question is up to you and your doctor. Make sure you ask the tough questions and get good information and advice from your healthcare team. They may tell you what they have probably told many of their patients: "You'll never be stronger than you are right now—today."
The answer to the third question is difficult. You can have a liver biopsy to determine the damage that hepatitis C has done to your liver so far, but there is currently no way to accurately predict how fast your disease may advance. This is something that you should discuss with your healthcare provider.
The answer to the fourth question is straightforward. If left untreated, hepatitis C can result in liver damage, which can lead to serious conditions such as cirrhosis (in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue) or liver cancer.
Print this page