Disease is what you have and illness is how you react to it.
Ive been a bit slack about updating the Blog, The interferon treatments catching up with me, It’s not bad just challenging.
Something I have always found is learning about things always makes it better
Hep C University
A fantastic new Resource available is the Hep C University is an educational website designed for providers seeking to learn the latest information on the treatment of Hepatitis C.
I have been slowly exploring the website and it is excellent I particularly recommend the Core Curriculum Although the information is American and drugs and treatments may be different. The modules are worth watching and contain detailed information watching the Doctor explaining HCV symptoms treatment’s. Brilliant.
The modules are part of a professional qualification and are a very high standard. Its great you can print out the slides, all information is referenced, Health education at it’s best.
A couple of videos this post
A English women Lynn talks about her successful Hepatitis C Treatment in a NHS video.
The results are in from a 3-1/2 year study of long-term interferon treatment against the Hepatitis C virus. By examining clinical outcomes, researchers evaluated whether or not long-term use of interferon would be helpful or even appropriate for HCV patients. William M. Lee UT , Southwestern Medical Center.
New Zealand drug trials with Protease Inhibitors for Hepatitis C
Apparently there are some drug trials starting in New Zealand with Protease Inhibitors for Hepatitis C. Trials in Christchurch and Auckland starting in a couple of weeks.
Will try and find out some more information for next post
Best of Health
I quite often go for a bike ride in the morning and recently while I was cycling home I saw my friend Malcolm cycling the other way, So I stopped to catch up we talked about life the past the future and a bit about Hepatitis C.
Malcolm was resigned to the fact he wouldn’t get treated for his Hepatitis C any time soon, he had watched his peer group not be treated, A treatment that he perceived would be denied to him, Discouraged from even seeing the doctor about his Hepatitis C, He was aware of some people waiting six years in Otago to get treatment. We talked some more about music and friends it was a nice sunny day before setting off in different directions.
WHOSE ELIGIBLE FOR TREATMENT ?
Stigma and discrimination on who gets treatment aids the spread of the epidemic.
The other day I got an email from a Canadian asking about American Hepatitis C treatment,
“Hi: I’m trying to find out as much as I can about Hep C on behalf of my son-in-law in the US. He has been +ve for about 15 years with no symptoms and now has what seems to be an acute condition — still not officially diagnosed. But among the info we’ve been given is that he MUST be completely drug/alcohol free for six months BEFORE he even starts Interferon/ribavirin treatment … Is this normal? We are in Canada, where, like you guys, we have a good medical system — but they are in the US where it ain’t the same … “
Not being an expert on Hepatitis C in North America I thought I would ask Alan Franciscus Editor-in-Chief, HCV Advocate www.hcvadvocate.org an American based web site.
“Great to hear from you. Regarding the question–while the statement restricting the use of alcohol or taking street drugs as a requirement for receiving HCV drug based therapy was removed from the National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement on the Management and Treatment of HCV, the reality is that the vast majority of physicians in this country will not treat anyone who is actively drinking or taking street drugs. I think that most of us in health care in the US realize that the degree of medical care and access to medical care in this country is deplorable. However, we do have reason to hope that the the new administration will change this.
Happy Holidays! Alan ”
The who gets treated policy here in New Zealand
seems to be similar with no one with on going alcohol and drug problems eligible for treatment.
The unfortunate thing about these attitudes, public health policy is they facilitate the spread of hepatitis C
If we don’t engage / treat the group most likely to spread hepatitis C, the disease will keep spreading.
Stigma and discrimination on who gets treatment aids the spread of the epidemic.
People at risk of Hepatitis C should be actively encouraged to get treated.
Ever wonder who makes all the money from interferon and what they spend the money on ?
If you live in Auckland you could this week see for yourself Louis Vuitton Pacific Series .
Alinghi The good ship interferon, winner of the Americas’ cup of sailing.
Alinghi successfully challenged for and won the 2003 America’s Cup in Auckland New Zealand and successfully defended at the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain.
Alinghi Boss Ernesto Bertarelli was CEO and Deputy Chairman of Serono, a Swiss biotechnology company he inherited from his father Fabio.
Under his leadership, Serono shifted its focus from pharmaceuticals to biotechnology (interferon’s) and revenues increased from $809 million in 1996 to $2.8 billion in 2006. Ernesto sold to Merck KGaA of Germany in September 2006 for US$13.3 billion.
Interferon developer Dr. Sidney Pestka
Dr. Sidney Pestka is known as the “father of interferon” for his groundbreaking work developing antiviral treatments for chronic hepatitis B and C
Early January I got to go to my friends Malcolm’s funeral which was unexpected. He had spent a last Christmas with his family and died in his sleep that night.
So this blogs for you Malcolm RIP, Thanks for the memories made and shared.
