HCMSG - Hepatitis C Mentor & Support Group, Inc.
Search
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Medical Advisors
  • Resources
    • Corona Virus
    • Hep C Facts & Stats
    • Medications and Treatments >
      • Patient Assistance Programs
    • Reading
    • Links
  • Programs/Training
    • The Circle Model >
      • THE CIRCLE Registration
      • Group and Facilitator Guide
    • Hepatitis C Online Training
    • The Hepatitis C Education and Support Group Assistance Program
    • Healthcare Provider Training
  • Newsletter
  • Blog
  • Support Us
    • Holiday 2020
  • Contact Us

THE IMPORTANCE OF HEPATITIS C ,CO-INFECTION SUPPORT GROUPS

8/22/2013

3 Comments

 
Patient support groups are important for patients with many diseases and conditions.  Hepatitis C /Co Infection
support groups have been shown to help patients deal with their diagnoses, manage care and treatment more
effectively than they would on their own.  Support groups are now an arm to medical care and they improve quality
of life for most participants. 

Support groups are more important than ever for Hepatitis C patients considering treatment, in
a clinical trial, or on treatment, using one of the new protease inhibitor drugs along with Peg Interferon and
Ribavirin.  Adding one of the new protease inhibitors has increased SVR (sustained viral response) or cure rates for patients, dramatically.  Some drugs allow some patients to be on treatment for a lot less time than in the past.  That's the good news! Yes some are now CURED!
In the next year there will be many more new once the FDA gives the OK.

But the new meds have also made treatment more complicated and added to the side effects some people experience. 
Support groups provide an important forum for patients to talk with their peers about questions to ask and the pros and cons of treatment, while they are consulting with their doctors about whether and when to treat.  Once patients start treatment, support groups provide an opportunity to discuss any, difficulties or side effects they are experiencing. A safe environment to share tips to manage orside effects and other problems such as adherence.

Having a place to talk about Hepatitis C and treatment with peers provides fellowship and encouragement.  Support
groups make it clear to individuals that they are not facing Hepatitis C and treatment ALONE.  They are more important now than ever.

If you want to find a Hepatitis C or Hepatitis C, Co-Infection  support group in New York, go to the Hepatitis
C Support Group www.hepatitisCmsg.org  list under the Resources section of this website.
o
If you, your organization, hospital or clinic are looking to start a group, we provide resources and trainings FREE OF CHARGE. 

Please look at website www.hepatitisCmsg.org under current projects for how.
 
 
 
 
 
3 Comments

LEADING LIVER & ID EXPERTS TO DEVELOP HEPATITIS C PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

8/1/2013

3 Comments

 
 July 25, 2013
 


http://www.idsociety.org


Recognizing the rapid development of hepatitis C medications coupled with increasing numbers
of people being identified with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the American
Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the Infectious Diseases
Society of America (IDSA) are collaborating to develop clinical recommendations
for the management of hepatitis C.


New medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration in recent years have
increased HCV cure rates, and several additional medications are expected to be
approved in the next three to five years. At the same time, new HCV testing
guidelines are expected to increase the number of patients diagnosed with
hepatitis C, many of whom currently are HCV-infected but unaware of their
  status. Ensuring that patients receive the new, effective treatment will be
  critical in increasing cure rates for hepatitis C. "We can finally say that
cure of HCV infection has become a real possibility for the majority of
  individuals infected with this deadly virus," said Gary Davis, MD, of
  AASLD.


"Members of AASLD and IDSA are committed to ensuring that patient care keeps pace with
rapidly advancing science," said David Relman, MD, president of IDSA. "This
effort is an important step toward advancing that goal and comes at an important
time as we all work to raise awareness of hepatitis virus infections on World
Hepatitis Day on July 28."


Through this collaboration, the societies will review current treatment recommendations
and use evidence-based, consensus guidance to develop updated recommendations
for managing patients. Recommendations will be updated regularly and made
available online. "A web-based system of new recommendations coupled with a
published annual update will afford the greatest opportunity for both rapid and
comprehensive output," said Donald M. Jensen, MD, of
AASLD.


About Hepatitis C
 

Hepatitis C is a liver disease resulting from chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus
(HCV). It is estimated that between 3 million and 4 million Americans are
infected with HCV and have chronic liver disease as a result. Because symptoms
of HCV infection may not appear for many years, more than 70 percent are unaware
they are infected.


Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended an
age-based screening strategy consisting of a one-time test for HCV for those at
highest risk, including everyone born between 1945 and 1965. This recommendation
was endorsed by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in June 2013. The
broader testing recommendations likely will detect a substantial number of
people who are unaware they are infected.


According to a July 10, 2013 article published in The Journal of The American Medical
Association (JAMA), deaths from liver disease increased from 1990 to 2010. HCV
is the most likely cause of the emergence of liver disease as a growing threat
to Americans. Early testing enables people who are infected to receive treatment
as soon as possible, and prevent progression to more serious disease, such as
cirrhosis and liver cancer.


Currently available drugs and the next generation of direct-acting antivirals that will
likely be available later this year offer the potential to treat and cure most
patients with HCV infection. Therefore, up-to-date recommendations for the
medical management of these patients and their treatment are critically
important.


 


·  About the AASLD


AASLD
is a medical subspecialty society representing clinicians and researchers in
liver disease. The work of our members has laid the foundation for the
development of drugs used to treat patients with viral hepatitis. Access to care
and support of liver disease research are at the center of AASLD’s advocacy
efforts.



AASLD
is the leading organization of scientists and healthcare professionals committed
to preventing and curing liver disease. AASLD was founded in 1950 by a small
group of leading liver specialists and has grown to an international society
responsible for all aspects of
hepatology.



Press releases and
additional information about AASLD are available online at www.aasld.org.



·  About IDSA


The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is an organization of physicians, scientists,
and other health care professionals dedicated to promoting health through
excellence in infectious diseases research, education, prevention, and patient
care. The Society, which has nearly 10,000 members, was founded in 1963 and is
based in Arlington, VA. For more information, see
www.idsociety.org.


Visit
www.idsociety.org/Hepatitis_C to access IDSA’s extensive
collection of resources on hepatitis C, including the Society’s Core Curriculum
for HPV at
www.idsociety.org/HCV_Curriculum/#Introduction.


 
3 Comments

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Privacy Policy