FACTS AN EDUCATIONAL SERIES BROUGHT TO YOU BY GILEAD SCIENCES

Transcription

1 KNOW THE FACTS AN EDUCATIONAL SERIES BROUGHT TO YOU BY GILEAD SCIENCES

2 IT S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT HEP C Hepatitis C (Hep C) is a virus that infects the liver. It doesn t get talked about much and you may not have heard about it. So even though Hep C affects millions, it s been almost forgotten. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEP C People can live with Hep C for years, even decades, without symptoms. But that doesn t mean it s not doing harm. If left untreated, Hep C can cause liver damage and can even lead to liver cancer. The good news is that Hep C can be cured. 3 5 What Is Hep C? Hep C And Your Liver 7 Symptoms Of Hep C 9 What To Do Next 11 Hep C Resources 13 Hep C Terms HEPCHOPE.COM

3 WHAT IS HEP C? ACUTE HEP C INFECTION 1 HEP C IS A VIRUS that infects the liver. 2 THE ONLY WAY TO GET HEP C is if the blood of an infected person gets into your bloodstream. 3 IN THE UNITED STATES, Hep C is the most common virus spread by blood-to-blood contact. 4 HEP C CAN BE CURED. Recent scientific advances have led to shorter, injection-free treatment options with average cure rates of around 95%. Cure means the virus is not detected in the blood when measured 3 months after treatment is completed. Acute Hep C lasts a short time and occurs within the first 6 months of exposure to the Hep C virus. In some cases, the body can get rid of the virus on its own. If not, the infection will become chronic. CHRONIC HEP C INFECTION Chronic Hep C is serious and long lasting. For most people with Hep C (75%-85%), an acute infection becomes chronic. Hep C is the #1 cause of liver cancer and liver transplants Every year, more Americans die from Hep C than HIV Early diagnosis and treatment of Hep C can help prevent liver damage and cirrhosis 3 HEPCHOPE.COM 4

4 HEP C AND YOUR LIVER WHAT IS THE LIVER AND WHAT DOES IT DO? The liver is the largest internal organ, located under your rib cage on your right side. It does many things for you, including: Storing nutrients from food and releasing them into the bloodstream when needed THE STAGES OF LIVER DISEASE HEALTHY LIVER Helps digest food. Breaks down harmful drugs and toxins. Helping to manage blood clotting Breaking down alcohol and drugs, and removing waste from the blood Producing bile to help digest fats FIBROTIC LIVER Inflammation from Hep C can lead to fibrosis (scar tissue) in the liver. CIRRHOTIC LIVER As scarring gets worse, it blocks blood flow in the liver. This is called cirrhosis. As Hep C progresses, it creates scarring in the liver, called fibrosis. Over time, liver fibrosis can lead to severe scarring, also known as cirrhosis. 5 HEPCHOPE.COM 6

5 THE SYMPTOMS OF HEP C Hep C is a silent disease many people feel few or no symptoms for years, but the virus never stands still. By the time symptoms do show up, liver damage is often advanced. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before seeking treatment. Fever Fatigue Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) The rate at which Hep C progresses is different for each person. By the time symptoms appear, liver damage is often already advanced. Many factors can affect how quickly Hep C progresses, such as: Nausea/ vomiting Dark urine Loss of appetite Gray-colored bowel movements Alcohol use Weight Joint pain Age Having HIV or AIDS 7 HEPCHOPE.COM 8

6 WHAT TO DO NEXT START A CONVERSATION If you have Hep C, or think you may have been exposed to Hep C, the first thing to do is talk with your healthcare provider. NEED HELP GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED? Here are some questions you might ask to get the conversation started: Am I at risk for Hep C? How might Hep C affect my health? How do I know if my liver is damaged? What sort of tests do I need? If I have Hep C, can I be cured? TALK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. 9 HEPCHOPE.COM 10

7 HEP C RESOURCES There is more to know about Hep C, and a lot of information is available online. Visit HEPCHOPE.COM to learn more about Hep C and how it may be time to see it in a new light. Hep C Hope offers information and resources that could help you move on from Hep C, including a Hep C Specialist appointment guide. Have questions? Call a Hep C Educator at. You also might check out sites like these*: HEPCHOPE.COM hcvadvocate.org hepatitis.va.gov help4hep.org cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/patienteduhcv.htm * These resources are independent third-party organizations and are unaffiliated with Gilead

8 HEP C TERMS ACUTE HEP C INFECTION The first stage of Hep C infection. Acute Hep C lasts a short time. It usually occurs within the first 6 months of exposure to the virus. CHRONIC HEP C INFECTION In chronic Hep C, the Hep C virus remains in the body after the acute infection. Chronic Hep C can lead to serious liver damage. CIRRHOSIS Severe fibrosis or scarring of the liver. Cirrhosis can cause your liver to stop working as it should. CURE Cure is a medical term. You are considered cured when a lab test done 3 months after you ve completed treatment does not find any Hep C virus in your blood. FIBROSIS Scarring in the liver. As Hep C progresses, scar tissue can replace healthy liver tissue. The liver may then stop working as well as it should. LIVER The liver is the largest internal organ. It weighs about 3 pounds. It is located under your rib cage on your right side. 13 HEPCHOPE.COM 14

9 HEP C HOPE, KNOW FOR SURE, GILEAD and the GILEAD logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. UNBC /17