HEPATITIS C SUPPORT GROUPS ARE MORE NECESSARY NOW THAN EVER BEFORE!

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

Support groups are more important than ever
for Hepatitis C patients considering treatment, or on treatment, using one of
the new protease inhibitor drugs along with PegInterferon and Ribavivin.  Adding
one of the new protease inhibitors has increased SVR (sustained viral response)
or cure rates for patients, dramatically.  Including one of the new drugs may
also allow some patients to be on treatment for a lot less time than in the
past.  That's great news!

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, and share tips to manage or
reduce side effects and other problems.

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/HIV/AIDS co-infection support group in New York, go to the Hepatitis
C Support Group list under the Resources section of this website.  








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