Cher, Genotype 2 and Cirrhosis

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I am behind in reading my messages, so there may be some more developments in

the days I haven't yet read, but I wanted to get this off to Cher right away.

In 1999,I was diagnosed with HCV Genotype 2 and cirrhosis. I was treated with

Rebetron for 48 weeks in 1999-2000. Genotype 2 makes Hep C easier to treat --

cirrhosis makes it harder. There should be no hard and fast rule about who is

treated for 6 months and who gets a year. My doctor explained to me that he used

a scoring guide to help him decide. The guide was based on characteristics such

as age, sex, race, liver condition and viral load. I scored " difficult to treat "

on three of the factors (age, sex and liver condition) so he decided to give me

the whole 48 weeks. As a result, I am now (10 months after end of treatment)

still showing virus " undetectable " . In other words, it seems to have worked!

I think you are almost always better off going for the longer treatment. The

side effects are very variable and in some people, not bad at all. I haven't

had a follow up biopsy to know the current condition of my liver, but I feel

100% better and I am apparently virus free. Not bad.

Fight this thing, Cher. Genotype 2 gives you a big advantage, and cirrhosis is

at least somewhat reversible.