Hepatitis C is a potentially life-threatening disease of the liver. It can cause severe liver damage, long-term health problems and death.
But, it can also be treated.
The biggest risk group includes people born between 1945 and 1965. Don't assume your doctor will automatically test you for hepatitis C. You have to ask. You can also check in with your county health department for an inexpensive or free test. Community-based organizations can give anonymous, confidential tests.
Treatment is currently available for hepatitis C. There are antivirals on the market that are very effective. You're tested six months post-treatment and don't need to be tested again unless you engage in risky behavior. You also want to reconsider some of the things you're ingesting that aren't easy on your liver.
Listen in as hepatitis C survivor, Carleen McGuffy, shares her story and the success she's had with the hepatitis C treatment.
Overcoming Hepatitis C
Treatment is now available for hepatitis C.
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 3
- Audio File: health_radio/1624ml4c.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Carleen McGuffy, Hepatitis C Survivor
- Guest Website: Hep C Hope
- Guest Facebook Account: www.facebook.com/climbingforcarleen/
- Guest Twitter Account: @ClimbForCarleen
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Guest Bio:
In 2010, Carleen McGuffy, 45 years old, was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, a potentially life-threatening disease, after she began experiencing pain on the left side of her abdomen.
She believes she contracted the virus over 30 years ago. The disease caused her to experience fatigue, joint pain and depression and eventually progressed to stage-2 liver fibrosis. In 2014, she was prescribed a 12-week regimen of a newly approved medicine for hepatitis C and upon completion, Carleen was cured.
Today, Carleen is a wife and mother of six children living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She and her husband founded Climbing for Carleen, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting testing and diagnosis of hepatitis C, dispelling the stigma of the disease and connecting people to the care they need. The organization hosts free rapid hepatitis C testing clinics year-round. - Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: Yes
- Host: Melanie Cole, MS
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Health Radio
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