I have decided to devote a post to this question because I have heard this asked so many times by people who are considering treatment and who are treating.
Most people don’t know that chemotherapy is not only used for cancer. It is used for hepatitis and in some cases of multiple sclerosis. I am sure there are other examples but you get the idea. Some people will say, “but isn’t any drug technically chemotherapy, since they are chemicals used to treat illness?” If you want to look at it that broadly, yes, but this treatment is also chemotherapy in the popular sense of the word. Here is why:
There are a couple of different types of what we traditionally think of as chemotherapy. Some of them are hormonally based, some are made from plant proteins, etc. With Hep C treatment, the part of the therapy that makes this classifiable as chemo is the interferon. If you are on Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) it is the type of chemotherapy known as an “antineoplastic agent” and is made from human proteins. Go to this link for a better summary than what I am capable of:
Additionally, the same type of interferon is also used to treat certain types of melanomas and hairy cell leukemia, except in those cases they use higher doses than what we use in our treatment regimen.
Some people have called this “chemo light.” I take exception to that. Some of us have a very hard time with this treatment and to call it “lite” is misleading. Also consider that even though we take a smaller dose of the chemotherapy agent than someone with cancer, in many cases with cancer you do not administer the drug every single week for six months or more, but rather in larger IV doses spread out in time…so I’d think that in many cases it kind of “evens out” as far as difficulty of treatment. Our hair thins. We throw up. Our red and white blood cells die, our hemoglobin goes down…this is not something to take on lightly. I believe the benefits of this treatment outweigh the risks, especially if you are in reasonably good health to begin with. I will tell you outright that I am an advocate of treating. However, anyone considering this treatment should go in with their eyes wide open so to speak, and if you don’t think you can handle chemotherapy, then don’t take on this treatment because that is what this is.
My Hep C Diary 
Don’t know why the font changed halfway through my post,,,too lazy to figure out how to fix it…but the entire post was written by me. If I ever quote someone I will be sure to state that in the post.
Wow I am contemplating treatment but wondering what the end goal is without getting a piece of a liver
Kenny have you undertaken Treatment and you are still sharing the journey. I had the treatment in 2008. then the Pegylated Interferon over 46 weeks which at the end of the treatment the virus returned within 6 months.
I understood Alpha interferon may cause or aggravate fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders with a dose of Ribavirin 50% of clearing the virus. I didn’t have to much trouble with side effects, other than the first time the Interferon I shook all over then I was sick vomited up everywhere, a couple of chills and hot flashes…
Now the more I think about getting through 46 weeks of PegINF with Ribavirin, and it wasn’t to bad for me, I am sure that it was smoking 1 gm of Marijuana a day that the pot Got me over the first 46 weeks ok, and having relapsed in 6 months then I had a 50% chance of clearing the virus then but I am going back for the new triple therapy I am hearing 85% chance to clear the virus and with a new regard to medicinal Marijuana. I will discuss it in my team, I’ll do it again.
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Will I def lose my hair?
How are you feeling? My best friend is about to begin chemo for hep C. I’m on here trying to figure out what I can do to support her.
She is in the process of finishing up TB meds and then will begin chemo. She is 42. Any advice for me? Really hope you are doing better. Thank you for sharing this difficult journey of yours. -Lisa
The fact that your on here to ask for ideas to help your friend makes me want to have you as a friend also lol. Seriously, its individual thing some cope better then others and it depends on which therapy shes going on, my personal experience right now and I’m 5 months in to a 48 week program is thats its rough. Nausea, persistent cough, insomnia, mood swings, chills, temps, flu symptoms, loss of appetite, and then theres the haemoglobin, and white cells you have to watch. Hair loss itching skin, fatigue, mouth ulcers and the list goes on. However, as you do go on you learn to manage symptoms better, worst part for me is I’m constantly picking up one bug or another and it sits me on my arse, being hospitalised once. This is due to immune system being low. Your friend will require some help with house work on occasions, the ability to be able to have some quiet rest and bed time, there will be times when she may feel isolated due to these extra infections we pick up, and sometimes a mask is required. Wash hair once a week no more, no soap no perfume baby shampoo (not johnsons) and same with body soap. Baby toothbrush for teeth, and a moisturising mouth wash Bio-Ten is good, sorbaline moisturising cream for skin, and a good foot moisturising cream . Trust me it all helps, however i don’t know how many other people have experienced this and this is my second time in treatment and it happened last time as well , and that is your eye lashes grow that long people think you have false ones.. Look i know the stuff above seems a lot but it doesn’t happen at once and it gets manageable. Just make sure your around the first couple of injection times for her because that can set you on your arse, not everyone but some. And make sure she is able to have her injection and go straight to bed for a day or two if she wishes. I have mine on fridays so there you go . Hope this helps, people dont get it but its chemo treatment and that is all there is to it. Good luck
I lost over half my hair. What’s come back is coarser & thin. If that wasn’t bad enough a lot came in grey, half my hair is straight, the other half has tight curls. It’s a mess. I am white & white hair care products don’t work & the products designed for black hair are too heavy….but I do find that they work better…..I use a spray by Dark & Lovely that kind of tames things, Aunt Jackie’s curl la la also helps.
yes
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Well hello all….I am on my 3rd week of the triple therapy…..sovaldi, peg- interferon 2a, and Ribavarin….. Yes, the first week of the pen was really bad…..but doable….I am also a Stage 3c Uterine cancer survivor, and in my eyes chemo is chemo but yes this is somewhat light….ended up shaving my head because the hair loss was just getting too much to deal with….looked like I had the mange….Hope any of u doing this have amazing results, a cure, not remission…..hope mine is as cure
There’s definately a lot to know about this subject. I love all of the points you’ve made.
I like it whenever people get together and share thoughts.
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Women’s Dakota/レディース ダコタ No.5612 各種カラー
Is Hepatitis C treatment chemotherapy? | My Hep C Diary
I finished the chemo treatment some time ago and it was successful in removing the virus Hep-C. I have really bad problems with negative after-effects. Does anyone else? Is that normal? 😦
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I just started mine. 12 weeks of this. Im told hair wont fall out but will get very dry and skin too. So extra emolient haie condirioner and lotion. Im on the newr tabs. One is savalti. So far excellent. Have to drink lots of water tho and take a giid vitamin with iorn.
Im 65yr old male geno 3 .i felt ok till i started epclusa 8days ago ,3 days ago i had ringing in my ears now i can omly hear in one ear,i just dont feel like taking anymore im scared whats next.