LOST1

Faith-
Yup love that name, HCV is a tricky virus with many mutated strains [genotypes], that is why it is going to be hard to treat.

An example of genotypes 1A -1B -1C then 2A-2B-2c then 3A-3B-3C then 4A- etc you get the picture,
having said that, Genotype 1A is the hardest to treat,where as, 4A being the easyist to treat.

Genotype 1A is the prominant Genotype in north America, [ USA and Canada ] -genotypes 2/A/B/C is prominant in Italy, and genotypes 3A/B/C is the most prominant in Asia.

It is possible to have one or more genotypes regardless of where you live, Now, myself being a 1A, I will harder to treat, harder to respond to treatments, your hubby Faith, being a 1B will have a better chance of responding to treatment than I, and some one being a 3A, will have a much better chance than us, and will only have to treat for 24 weeks.

With the pegasys studies here in Canada, all where geno type 1A or 1B, these studies have been ongoing for near five years, with all involved the sucess rate is a encouraging 61 % for respounding and being virus free, some have been 100% virus free for over three years.


Just a reminder, even if you are "cured" of HCV,if you are in a high risk group, you can be reinfected, so these treatments are not a true vaccine as yet, but still our best chance, I beleive for the next five years, to improve our quaility of life by ridding ourselves of this Dragon bug.

That first shot will be nowhere as bad as the both of you are thinking, just go into this with a high positive attitude, get outdoors with fresh air, keep reasonably busy,and take control of the treatment, do not let it control you, your support for your hubby will have a huge impact also, A certain guy,"lucky" will probebly respond just because of the outstanding support from his thoughtful wife.

Be positive, be well+

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--Get Outdoors-Enjoy Life----Neil