Did you know almost 4 million Americans, or 1.8 percent of the U.S. population, have been infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV); it is the most prevalent cause of chronic liver disease in the United States; and a segment of those suffering from chronic HCV, or Hep C, will develop liver cancer. Until this morning, I did not know. But when someone close to you is diagnosed with this disease, numbers do not matter. Even if there were only two people on the planet with this diagnosis and one of the two happens to be someone you love, then it suddenly seems to become the number one disease.
In my preliminary research, I have found that 80 percent of those with Hep C have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they are likely to be jaundice; fatigue; dark urine; abdominal pain; loss of appetite and nausea. Skin rashes, extreme itching, muscle wasting and weight loss can also be signs of Hep C. For decades, you can have Hep C and not know it is taking its toll on the liver.
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), a distinct and major characteristic of hepatitis C is its tendency to cause chronic liver disease. At least 75 percent of patients with acute hepatitis C ultimately develop chronic infection, and most of these patients have accompanying chronic liver disease. Chronic hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
Those at highest risk for Hep C are intravenous drug users; recipients of clotting factors made before 1987; hemodialysis patients; recipients of blood and/or solid organs before 1992; healthcare workers, and infants born to infected mothers.
The treatments are harsh and can come with severe side effects that cause some to discontinue treatment. New research indicates that smoking marijuana seems to offset some of the adverse side effects of treatment and help those fighting this disease remain on treatment. Hepatitis Central has published an explanation of how Hep C infection can lead to liver cancer with Duke Researchers Show How Hepatitis Infection Leads To Liver Cancer, that I found helpful in understanding the progression of the disease.
As I say, I have just started my research this morning. With a critical eye, I will continue researching until I have exhausted every avenue of information, both conventional and alternative, that I can find. If any of our readers can suggest any resources for Hep C and/ or liver cancer, please leave this information in the comment area.
1. I checked back by here tonight to see if any further comments had been posted. Sadly, I see that none have. That is part of the Hepatitis C PROBLEM! The public is not educated about this disease, has little understanding of it, and does not realize the MAGNITUDE of the situation. Since we outnumber HIV patients at least 5 to 1 and some estimate as high as 8 to 1, I wish more people would take a moment and EDUCATE THEMSELVES and each other about this unnoticed *epidemic* that is plaguing our country. If you are interested in a good PSA Dalene you can go to www.helpwithhepc.org and see one that Willie Nelson did quite awhile back but hasn't made the public airways yet. That is also sad. It would bring ALOT of recognition to this disease! Please write to me or Patty if you have any questions as you do your research and PLEASE continue your research and see how important it is for everyone to write about this disease to each other and educate educate! Patty and I can probably both give you a fountain of information. You can access Janis and Friends at http://forums.delphiforums.com/friendship7/start You can access my Hep C info newsletter at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HepCnetNewsletter/ You can access my main Yahoo group at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HepCingles2/ or my Delphi group that has mostly info posts at http://forums.delphiforums.com/HepCingles/start or my nonprofit at http://www.HEALSofNGA.org or one that Patty is involved with at http://www.statuscunknown.com/ An excellent site for overall information is http://www.HCVAdvocate.org and there are many many more out there! The FAIR Foundation at http://www.FAIRFoundation.org can educate you on where NIH spends $$ on every disease and an excellent message from Dr. C. Everett Koop can be accessed at http://www.epidemic.org/textMessage.html
Please keep reading Dalene and please keep trying to help us educate the public about this disease. There are NO symptoms for Hepatitis C for the first 20 to 30 years and by then it has done alot of damage.
Thanks a million or 5 to 8!
Peace
Pam
http://www.HEALSofNGA.org
Posted at 1:21AM on Sep 24th 2006 by PeachStatePam