Tell Me More About Treatment
MYTH:
If hepatitis C were really harming my health, I would have symptoms.
FACT:
Symptoms of hepatitis C are often mild or absent altogether—80% of people with hepatitis C have no signs or symptoms of the disease —but liver damage can occur with or without hepatitis C symptoms.
MYTH:
If I had hepatitis C, I would know how I got it. Only people who have a history of risky behavior need to be tested.
FACT:
30% of people with chronic hepatitis C don't know how they got it. Anyone who wants testing and information should have the opportunity to get it.
MYTH:
Since hepatitis C is a long-term condition, treatment will be just as effective if I wait until later to start.
FACT:
Studies have found that heptatitis C patients who are treated before liver damage occurs may respond better to treatment.
MYTH:
Hepatitis C is not as common as HIV.
FACT:
HCV now infects more than 4 times more Americans than HIV.
MYTH:
Only people who use drugs on a long-term basis are at high risk for hepatitis C.
FACT:
IV drug use, even once or a few times many years ago, is a major risk factor for hepatitis C.
MYTH:
The side effects of prescription treatment are worse than the disease itself.
FACT:
Though side effects of treatment can be challenging, many patients find them tolerable. Also, serious side effects do not occur in everybody.
MYTH:
Injection interferon needs to be taken 3 times per week.
FACT:
Pegylated interferon, the current standard for treatment, is only taken once a week.
MYTH:
Only about 40% of people have a positive response to treatment.
FACT:
Response rates are significantly higher for some types of patients. And even if therapy does not rid your body of the virus completely, it may help reduce inflammation.
MYTH:
If my liver enzymes are normal, my disease is under control.
FACT:
Although these are often tested and can be useful in many situations, liver enzyme levels alone are not considered an accurate test of the progression of your condition.
MYTH:
Treatment does not work for patients of African American descent.
FACT:
Current treatments have shown encouraging response rates in patients of African American descent.
MYTH:
If the level of the hepatitis C virus in my blood is low, my disease is not so bad.
FACT:
Viral load alone does not give a clear picture of the progression of the disease and the health of your liver.
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