Marianne Faithfull: I have hepatitis C

you say ‘Hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer if care is not taken by sufferers.’

This is unfair - it leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer even if care is taken! please don’t fall into the trap of blaming people with hep c for their disease. It is the virus which slowly damages the liver over years infecting and killing the cells which leads to scar tissue build-up and there is nothing you can do about that if the treatment is not successful. People tend to confuse hep c cirrhosis with with cirrhosis from alcohol abuse.

Hi.I am a “Vietnam Vet” and have discovered I have Hep C&B with cirrhosis and possible Lymphomia Cancer(possible,not diagonised as of yet).I have never done any introvenious drugs,no tattoos,no body piercing,no blood transfusion,nor do I drink that much,a beer here and there.I have done a lot of research on this matter and My doctors are agreeing with me that my problems are related to “Air-injection vaccine” during my basic training which every soldier had to do back in 1966.The “National Liver Foundation” has stated,”Prolong exposer to Enviromental Toxins will lead to Cirrhosis”.Being exposed to “Agent Orange” for a year and one day is most likely how I got cirrhosis.It is real important for every military personel(male or female)that was in service before 1989(when Hep C was discovered) be tested,in my opinion.I have filed a service connection claim for my medical problems but as of going on over a year now it has not made it to the Regional Board of the Va for a yes or no answer.The other reason I am writting this letter is to ask you if you know of any more information or web cites that I can or any other veteran could go to that would help them make a stronger case for their VA claim.Sorry for such a long reply and thanks for listening and for any help you may supply.Currently I have not started any Hep C treatment until my Hep C doctor know for sure or not if I have lymphomia cancer or not.I am doing well,just mainly staying tired all the time but I am sure the worst is yet to come.So once again thanks for listening and any help you may give.Every one should realize alcohol and tobacco “Does Not” cause evrything.

Thanks for standing up and helping others recognize it is okay to say “I have Hep C” so few people do.

There is a serious need for celebrity spokespeople. There are a lot the people living in the public eye standing beside charities that are calling attention to many causes already in public thought. Hep C calls as victim 200 Million people in the world. Very few people understand it. Charities supporting Positive Awareness of Hep C are not yet supported by the famous.

We need celebrity spokespeople secure enough in themselves to join in a media campaign to help make a difference.

[In the 70’s Hep C did not exist. It was not discovered until the late 80’s. Blood banks were not able to screen HCV out until 1992. 80% of the time the victim experiences absolutely no symptoms. The disease does kill, slowly and silently.]