Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
My Sept labs show I am at increased risk for HCC. That is the first time my numbers ever indicated any of that. Increased protein, AFP, Iron.
I finish wk 3 of Harvoni today but early labs were drawn Tues. to see how it is working. I'm hoping to see a big drop based on how well I'm feeling but certainly not expecting a miracle & undie yet.
Does the risk of HCC go away with SVR? We never got a biopsy or fibrosure so my exact liver condition is unknown. Based on previous years of CT scans, ultrasounds, liver enzyme tests & other labs my doc believes I am early fibrosis & tells me I do not have cirrhosis. Traditional biopsy attempts failed & until this year there was no place to go for fibrosure. Doc doesn't think fibrosure is necessary but I'm not up on HCC to the same degree as I am on HCV & cirrhosis. Info. appreciated. Thanks
I finish wk 3 of Harvoni today but early labs were drawn Tues. to see how it is working. I'm hoping to see a big drop based on how well I'm feeling but certainly not expecting a miracle & undie yet.
Does the risk of HCC go away with SVR? We never got a biopsy or fibrosure so my exact liver condition is unknown. Based on previous years of CT scans, ultrasounds, liver enzyme tests & other labs my doc believes I am early fibrosis & tells me I do not have cirrhosis. Traditional biopsy attempts failed & until this year there was no place to go for fibrosure. Doc doesn't think fibrosure is necessary but I'm not up on HCC to the same degree as I am on HCV & cirrhosis. Info. appreciated. Thanks
THE AFP is only one of many screening tools to detect HCC. It can go up and down and is not a reliable indicator on it's own.
Some good news I was given is that on future abdominal ultrasounds, they may see masses but those are often regenerating liver cells, Yes, even in a cirrhotic liver.
My nurses comments were that I am more likely NOT to develop HCC than to!
in Tumor Marker Blood Tests
http://www.kantrowitz.com/cancerpoints/tumormarkerfalsepositives.html
Happy you have SVR. About time for all of us!
I told him I would wait to see what my liver Dr. has to say.
My triglycerides have gone up and down over the years.
I've just stopped stressing about HCV and now he loads my anxiety bank with new concerns.
my iron is off the charts..539 range 15-150 yet biopsy says no iron shown in liver...??OK??
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/afp-tumor/tab/test/
Problem for some will be insurance not wanting to pay for it - but your docs can try to work that angle.
My AFP climbed steadily from dx in 2002 to last year. My last one in late 2013, before I started tx, was over 30 - not that scary, but... however, my AFP L3 was 4,8, which is dab smack in the middle of the normal range. So the L3 is an important one, if you can get it.
I will let you all know my results when they come in on the Labcorp Beacon page.
AAL - according to my doc, your risk of developing HCC goes down markedly with continued SVR. And that only makes sense. :)
My AFP-L3 is 6.9% w/ref. 0.5-9.9 which is within normal range
My Ferritin is 375 ng/mL w/ref. 10-232
First I have to achieve SVR in order for my risk of HCC to go down. Starting wk 4 of Harvoni tomorrow. Feeling great! Expect labs to show dramatic improvement but not undie. Waiting for 2 1/2 wk lab report.
Thanks everyone!
Sovaldi is the Magic Bus.