gastro appt out the way and i'm feeling on top of the world!  NO LIVER CANCER!  AND cos the risk of cancer is so high in cirrhosis and in hep c, my gastro told me that they will screen me 6-monthly for cancer.  i'm happy about that too.  that way, they'll pounce on it as soon as it raises its ugly head.  anyway, thats one worry out of the way.  still no genotype tho.  i'm told the results take about 4 weeks to come back and as i had the last bloods done on 20 sept, i guess that leaves about 2 weeks.  cirrhosis is confirmed, as is hep c and he said something about spleen being enlarged cos of portal tension????  hmmmm... dont know about that one yet.  will have to research.  if anyone knows about this i would appreciate the info.  when bloods come back he said he will write to me with info of genotype and viral load and refer me to kings treatment centre.  i havent had a biopsy as he said i would have to have last time i saw him.  now he thinks kings might do one.  we'll see.  being new to hep c (as in recently diagnosed) i'm a bit confused.  from what i've read, when hep c causes cirrhosis and portal tension the liver is thought to be in an advanced stage of disease.  yet when my son asked if what i have is life-threatening, he replied "yes.  it can be, but your mother's liver is not in an advanced stage of disease yet."  i have obviously got everything totally wrong somewhere along the line!!!   still havent heard about new date for thyroidectomy.  perhaps i shouldnt have asked them to do breast as well.  i could be becovering now.  grrrrrrrr!  gastro said they wont start treatment til i am recovered from thyroid op.  anyway, even though i have always tried to stay positive about everything, i am even more positive now.  it seems there might be light at the end of the tunnel after all:)  thank you guys for being there and for allowing me to vent my emotions on site.  i am there for you too.  hang in there.  we can beat this demon.  we just need to stay strong:)