May 19th is National Hepatitis Testing Day and I want to make you aware of how important it is for anyone over 50 to get tested as soon as possible. This is near and dear to my heart. My youngest brother passed away because of complications of Hepatitis C. He was 1 week short of his 50th birthday.
Hepatitis C sadly has a stigma attached to it. People associate it with shooting up drugs, HIV infection, or other factors. Even doctors are reticent to recommend testing. However, the consequences of not knowing you have the disease can be devastating.
I spoke to Dr. Rick Pesano, VP of Research and Development at Quest Diagnostics as well as Robin Roth, a woman who was diagnosed with Hepatitis C during a routine blood test. They both gave me insight into the importance of testing.
Robin Roth – Hepatitis C survivor
Robin is a health educator who had heard about hepatitis C so she asked to be tested on a routine doctor’s visit, even though she didn’t have any symptoms. She had the test and was surprised to learn she tested positive. At the time, her treatment was intense. She underwent weekly interferon therapy and pills for a year, which was the gold standard treatment at the time but had a long list of side effects.
Listen to her story in the video below.
Treatment now is much simpler and only requires a once-daily pill that has minimal side effects.
Robin is now disease free and has become a passionate activist to make sure Baby Boomers get tested.
Why YOU should get tested for Hepatitis C
People born between 1945 – 1965 are 5 times more likely to have hepatitis C than other adults, according to the CDC.
Below are some of the circumstances that have caused this to be true. Dr. Pesano strongly recommends not pointing blame at anyone who has the disease. It was most likely not in their control. The virus can take decades to present itself so events that took place in the past need to be considered.
- Exposure to open blood – Testing is especially important for healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, military personnel, (Vietnam Vets), and anyone else who had blood exposure, especially pre 1990’s.
- Needle sticks
- Illicit drugs – either injected or inhaled
- HIV
- Transfusions – Women may have been given transfusions during or after birth and were too busy with their babies to notice.
- Hemodialysis
- Born to a mother with Hepatitis C.
- Organ transplant before 1992.
- Clotting factor before 1987
- A prison experience with others who used needles.
- Piercings – Where did you get your ears pierced? If you did it in a jewelry store, know that needle guns may have been reused or were not sanitary, especially during the 60s and 70s.
- Tattoos – Before tattoo parlors were regulated, needles may not have been reused but the ink bottles were. If you were tattooed in a foreign country, be especially diligent about being tested.
- Sexual transmission – the risk of contracting Hepatitis C during sex is much less than through blood but there is still some risk.
- Sharing razors. (like young girls used to do during slumber parties)
- Blood brothers and sisters – remember that practice?
Symptoms are hard to detect but look for:
- Bleeding or bruising easily.
- Poor appetite
- Jaundice – yellow eyes
- Swelling
- Weight loss
- Dark urine
(Some symptoms may be similar to menopause, anxiety, or fibromyalgia – Get tested to rule out Hepatitis C.)
The test itself
Hepatitis C is diagnosed through a simple blood test called the HCV antibody test that determines the exposure. If it is positive, then a 2nd blood test (viral load) is done to see if the virus is present. If that test is positive a genotype test is done to see what type of Hep C you have. Once the virus is in an advanced stage, you may not see abnormalities in a liver function test.
Other facts you should know
There are four stages of Hepatitis C – F1, F2, F3, and F4. If untreated, the virus will progress to cirrhosis of the liver and finally, liver failure, which is what happened to my brother. One day he started vomiting blood and a week later he died.
The transmission rate between an infected mother and a child is 5%.
If you are diagnosed with the disease it’s important to avoid drinking alcohol because it can exacerbate cirrhosis of the liver.
Some members of the entertainment community like Naomi Judd were diagnosed with Hep C and were upfront about it, but so far, there have been few champions for the cause.
The Good News
Hepatitis C can now be cured easily with treatment if it is diagnosed in time. So don’t wait until it’s too late.
Do yourself a favor and insist on being tested. As May 19th is Hepatitis C testing day, why not make May the month you have the test?
For more information, please visit KnowAboutHepC.com
I had my test done last year. Had no idea it was an important thing to do until our brother died from it. Thankfully, I tested negative but I would urge all baby boomers to get this test!
Thanks, Janet. So glad you got tested for it and that it came out negative. It’s important information everyone our age needs to be aware of.
I had seen a poster when seeing my doctor (for an illness) a couple of weeks ago. In New York, doctors must offer the blood test to anyone born between 1945 and 1965 – myself, my husband, and all of his siblings fall into that group. However, insurance doesn’t have to cover it. In fact, my mother in law mentioned it to us recently – she must have seen an ad on TV. Until I saw your list of some of the common behaviors of that period I thought I was of very low risk. I am going to look to see if there is a low cost test option. Thank you for writing this post, in light of the tragic circumstances that led to it. You may have saved lives.
Thanks, Alana. I hope I can help to enlighten others to take the test so they or their loved ones won’t suffer. It’s such a simple test and now the treatment is simple as well. Check out health fairs and clinics for low-cost tests.
Such an important message you’ve delivered! I’m sorry you lost your brother at such a young age. Boomers may have gotten complacent about Hep C and Aides, but we need reminders that they’re still out there, and we’re not immune to contracting them. Thank you. xoxox, B
Thanks, Brenda. You’re so right. We think we’re over getting diseases like Hep C and AIDS but we’re not. It never hurts to check and rule them out and it can save your life.
Thanks for sharing this important info. I do not believe that I have been tested. I am going to check with my internist to see if I have ever been tested.
Good idea, Ellen. I don’t think doctors routinely test for Hep C unless you ask for it. They may do liver tests but not necessarily for the virus itself. It always helps to ask.
I think you should post this a few times this year, Rebecca. My husband and I were tested this year at the suggestion of our GP at our annual physicals. Our insurance did pay for it. I hope that is not a hindrance to people because it’s highly curable but devastating if left unfound. Thanks for putting this out there! Very important.
Thanks so much Cathy. I’m so glad you and your husband were tested. It’s so important and I will take your suggestion of posting this throughout the year.