Great news John! According to my Dr, the chances for future liver issues like HCC gets more minimal as times passes, post SVR, so those 'peace of mind' check-up's twice yearly will continue to become just that - 'peace of mind'!
Cinnamon Girl said
Oct 16, 2014
Excellent news, John, I`m so happy for you...congratulations!!!
No words can describe the joy and relief of finally hearing the word `cured`, it`s absolutely priceless, and you must be thrilled!!
Enjoy your happy, healthy Hep C free life, and do keep in touch! ~ Jill
Ps - Thanks for the reminder of the importance of post tx follow ups, and I`m so sorry to hear about that poor woman. (My husband died from HCC and it breaks my heart to hear this.)
Groupergetter said
Oct 16, 2014
Way to go Gman it's GREAT that you can finally put this behind you. The occasional visits for labs and ultrasound will give continued peace of mind.
Matt Chris said
Oct 16, 2014
Hey John
Super important story about the importance of following up our SVR with scanning for Liver cancer. A healthy live style and healthy diet is in order.
Happiness goes a long way in providing for a happy liver.
Like the quote from Eat, Pray, Love says "Smile with your Liver"
matt
jimbob said
Oct 16, 2014
That' great news Gater guy. That's what we all like to hear.
Also good advice on post SVR 24 check ups. Thanks!
Gator Man said
Oct 15, 2014
Fireman Rob wrote:
That's great, John. I'm so happy for you. Thanks for sharing that very interesting theory on the S/O tx before Harvoni reasoning. That makes a lot of sense. It's always good to have a backup plan. I find that not retreating until 24 weeks after relapse info very interesting as my doc probably doesn't know that.
Thanks or sharing those words of wisdom and the great news!
-Rob
Thanks Rob. I was a little unclear to the extent that 24 weeks would be the duration for S/L tx 'after' 12 weeks of S/O and a relapse. I don't know if this strategy would apply to someone who failed triple therapy with a 1st gen. protease-inhibitor and Peg/Riba.
suziq said
Oct 15, 2014
Hi Gator and All,
Just did my first follow-up for Merck. They pay for a follow-up every six months for three years. I also did a scan for HCC at the same time. All was clear this time around. Been UND for just over a year--SVR since July. Think Malcolm posted about six month scans for cirrhotics a while back and I decided to do my Merck labs and the scan at the same time. This isn't exactly on topic, but was responding to post on liver cancer here. Sad story.
That's great, John. I'm so happy for you. Thanks for sharing that very interesting theory on the S/O tx before Harvoni reasoning. That makes a lot of sense. It's always good to have a backup plan. I find that not retreating until 24 weeks after relapse info very interesting as my doc probably doesn't know that.
Thanks or sharing those words of wisdom and the great news!
-Rob
Brownie said
Oct 15, 2014
That's GREAT John! It's just what we ALL hope to hear & next month I hope to hear the same. (SVR-24) I'll heed that warning as you suggested, bc I too am a compensated cirrhotic with a fatty liver. The only "C" word I want to hear is cured.
Huey said
Oct 15, 2014
LIKE !!!
Gator Man said
Oct 15, 2014
Tig56 wrote:
Gator Man!!! That's fantabulous news buddy!! I felt much better getting my 6 month report back too. Now I'm waiting for the 1 year! Getting those bits of excellent news just never get old and are always uplifting. Congrats buddy!
WOOT!!!
Thanks everyone! I really didn't give the 6 month checkup much thought, but now realize that I have put HCV in the rear view mirror of life. Ultrasounds, blood work, HCC monitoring and a liver squeeze twice a year is fine with me.
One patient anecdote discussed by my doctor is worth mentioning, although it is sad. Earlier on the same day I had my visit, he had an old patient come in who felt awful and thought she was having a recurrence of Hep C. She reached SVR several years ago, but never followed up with ultrasounds or exams even though she had compensated cirrhosis. Unfortunately, she now has HCC at stage 4 with one large mass and multiple tumors. At this point, there is little he can do.
Since we have many people who have reached SVR that are F3-F4 and many more to follow now that Harvoni is available, the moral of the story is obvious-regular ultrasounds and checkups are a must!
-- Edited by Gator Man on Wednesday 15th of October 2014 09:06:02 PM
Mugsy said
Oct 14, 2014
Wonderful news! Very happy for you.
Tig said
Oct 14, 2014
Gator Man!!! That's fantabulous news buddy!! I felt much better getting my 6 month report back too. Now I'm waiting for the 1 year! Getting those bits of excellent news just never get old and are always uplifting. Congrats buddy!
WOOT!!!
LC said
Oct 14, 2014
That's great news!
Milliganus said
Oct 14, 2014
GREEAAAT NEWS!!! Cured is a sweet word! +1 to liver regeneration too.
lilbit said
Oct 14, 2014
Horaaaaay Gater Man. That is exciting.
Dzdayscomin said
Oct 14, 2014
Way to go Gator wrestler. .....! Lol
I'm sure this thing is ova fo you! Now as long as your remaining liver makes a 4th quarter comeback you'll be in fine shape for the playoffs of life!
Really happy for you Mr. Thanks for being such a positive and supportive member of this community!
May all your dreams come true!
Duane
pl1952 said
Oct 14, 2014
Congrats on that good news Gator Man!!
Gator Man said
Oct 14, 2014
I got a call from my doctor with EOT +26 week results (I had to cancel my 24 week appt.) and I'm still UND-all lab values in the normal range. He used the c word for the first time, "cured". Hooray!!!
We were chatting about the Harvoni release and its impact on treatment. The doctor said that if I presented today as I did last December, a treatment experienced (failed Peg/Riba) cirrhotic, he would still prescribe S/O over S/L. His reasoning is that if S/O for 12 weeks didn't work, S/L could be the fallback for 24 weeks after relapse. There probably is more information regarding this that we didn't discuss, but something I would encourage anyone who is a treatment experienced cirrhotic, to discuss with their doctor. Of course this is also assumes the Utopian world of unlimited insurance coverage regardless of prescription costs.
Great news John!
According to my Dr, the chances for future liver issues like HCC gets more minimal as times passes, post SVR, so those 'peace of mind' check-up's twice yearly will continue to become just that - 'peace of mind'! 
Excellent news, John, I`m so happy for you...congratulations!!!
No words can describe the joy and relief of finally hearing the word `cured`, it`s absolutely priceless, and you must be thrilled!!
Enjoy your happy, healthy Hep C free life, and do keep in touch! ~ Jill
Ps - Thanks for the reminder of the importance of post tx follow ups, and I`m so sorry to hear about that poor woman. (My husband died from HCC and it breaks my heart to hear this.)
Way to go Gman
it's GREAT that you can finally put this behind you. The occasional visits for labs and ultrasound will give continued peace of mind.
Hey John
Super important story about the importance of following up our SVR with scanning for Liver cancer. A healthy live style and healthy diet is in order.
Happiness goes a long way in providing for a happy liver.
Like the quote from Eat, Pray, Love says "Smile with your Liver"
matt
Also good advice on post SVR 24 check ups. Thanks!
Thanks Rob. I was a little unclear to the extent that 24 weeks would be the duration for S/L tx 'after' 12 weeks of S/O and a relapse. I don't know if this strategy would apply to someone who failed triple therapy with a 1st gen. protease-inhibitor and Peg/Riba.
Hi Gator and All,
Just did my first follow-up for Merck. They pay for a follow-up every six months for three years. I also did a scan for HCC at the same time. All was clear this time around. Been UND for just over a year--SVR since July. Think Malcolm posted about six month scans for cirrhotics a while back and I decided to do my Merck labs and the scan at the same time. This isn't exactly on topic, but was responding to post on liver cancer here. Sad story.
SuziQ
That's great, John. I'm so happy for you. Thanks for sharing that very interesting theory on the S/O tx before Harvoni reasoning. That makes a lot of sense. It's always good to have a backup plan. I find that not retreating until 24 weeks after relapse info very interesting as my doc probably doesn't know that.
Thanks or sharing those words of wisdom and the great news!
-Rob
Thanks everyone! I really didn't give the 6 month checkup much thought, but now realize that I have put HCV in the rear view mirror of life. Ultrasounds, blood work, HCC monitoring and a liver squeeze twice a year is fine with me.
One patient anecdote discussed by my doctor is worth mentioning, although it is sad. Earlier on the same day I had my visit, he had an old patient come in who felt awful and thought she was having a recurrence of Hep C. She reached SVR several years ago, but never followed up with ultrasounds or exams even though she had compensated cirrhosis. Unfortunately, she now has HCC at stage 4 with one large mass and multiple tumors. At this point, there is little he can do.
Since we have many people who have reached SVR that are F3-F4 and many more to follow now that Harvoni is available, the moral of the story is obvious-regular ultrasounds and checkups are a must!
-- Edited by Gator Man on Wednesday 15th of October 2014 09:06:02 PM
Wonderful news! Very happy for you.
Gator Man!!! That's fantabulous news buddy!! I felt much better getting my 6 month report back too. Now I'm waiting for the 1 year! Getting those bits of excellent news just never get old and are always uplifting. Congrats buddy!
GREEAAAT NEWS!!! Cured is a sweet word! +1 to liver regeneration too.
Way to go Gator wrestler. .....! Lol
I'm sure this thing is ova fo you! Now as long as your remaining liver makes a 4th quarter comeback you'll be in fine shape for the playoffs of life!
Really happy for you Mr. Thanks for being such a positive and supportive member of this community!
May all your dreams come true!
Duane
Congrats on that good news Gator Man!!
I got a call from my doctor with EOT +26 week results (I had to cancel my 24 week appt.) and I'm still UND-all lab values in the normal range. He used the c word for the first time, "cured". Hooray!!!
We were chatting about the Harvoni release and its impact on treatment. The doctor said that if I presented today as I did last December, a treatment experienced (failed Peg/Riba) cirrhotic, he would still prescribe S/O over S/L. His reasoning is that if S/O for 12 weeks didn't work, S/L could be the fallback for 24 weeks after relapse. There probably is more information regarding this that we didn't discuss, but something I would encourage anyone who is a treatment experienced cirrhotic, to discuss with their doctor. Of course this is also assumes the Utopian world of unlimited insurance coverage regardless of prescription costs.