Advantages of using HCV treatment

• You can clear the virus.
• Treatment can improve liver health by reducing inflammation. It may also reverse fibrosis. This can happen even in people who do not clear the virus, although less often.
• It will stop the risk of passing HCV to sexual and drug-using partners.
• Clearing the virus removes the risk of mother to infant transmission.
• Treating HCV before starting HIV treat ment will reduce the risk of liver-related side effects from HIV drugs later.
• The treatment period is only likely to be 12 months, not lifelong.
• Treatment may reduce the risk of longterm complications including liver cancer, even in people who do not clear HCV.
• HCV treatment is less effective for people with serious liver scarring (cirrhosis), so it may be important not to delay treatment depending on the condition of your liver.

Treatment tips

• Identify people in your life who will be a good source of support for you.
• Be prepared before seeing your doctor. Make a list of questions in advance.
• Take someone with you to appointments, particularly if there are psychological side effects that you need to discuss.
• Consider joining a support group

After diagnosis, I was determined to have the treatment immediately… but I had to leave the country for family reasons soon after starting the treatment and was unable to continue the treatment beyond the first month. A few years later when things had calmed down, my concern turned to my partner and I resolved to get rid of the HCV as quickly as possible.