Hep C and Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma)

[lporterrn]

A Forum member who is now free of hep C, expressed concern about liver cancer risk. The member was hoping that being cured of hep C meant not having to be concerned about possible consequences from the virus. 

I hope my  biopsy doesn't show cirrhosis because he said he couldn't give me clearance and I would have to have lab work every six months with him.  He said liver cancer is a high risk for hep C  patients that have cirrhosis.

The member also mentioned having gained weight during treatment.

I thought I'd share my response:

If you have cirrhosis, you are at a higher risk for cancer than if you didn't have hep C. However, it is not a high risk - it is still relatively low. Just like people have regular mammograms and colonoscopies, you will need to have lab work and ultrasounds if you have cirrhosis. In some ways, I wish we all had to have these, since I lost 3 friends to liver cancer last year, and not one had hep C. (I also lost friends who did have hep C.) Liver cancer is on the rise. One thing you can do to help protect yourself is try to lose the weight you gained, since fatty liver disease is a huge problem in the U.S. Fatty liver disease is on its way to replacing hep C as the #1 cause of cirrhosis.

Hope this is helpful to others...

[rgr]

Thank You Lucinda for the great info. I''m sure it will help others. It just helped me....Roger

[trapper]

Hi Lucinda   thanks for the info.  I had a question for you.  My 12 week post s/o treatment came back not detected which is excellent.  My Anion Gap is low at 3, normal range is 6-14.  Do you know what this test means?   thanks   trapper

[Mike]

"A low anion gap is frequently caused by hypoalbuminemia. Albumin is a negatively charged protein and its loss from the serum results in the retention of other negatively charged ions such as chloride and bicarbonate. As bicarbonate and chloride anions are used to calculate the anion gap, there is a subsequent decrease in the gap.

In hypoalbuminaemia the normal anion gap is decreased with 2.5 to 3 mmol/L per 1 g/dL decrease in serum albumin. Common conditions that reduce serum albumin in the clinical setting are hemorrhage, nephrotic syndrome, intestinal obstruction and liver cirrhosis."

Best wishes, Mike

[trapper]

thanks mike

[ricpark]

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is also connected to Hep C and the chance of recurrence is higher if you still have the virus.  Some studies suggest treating the virus first if time permits. I just past my 1 year from chemo and still clean, and I am about to start Harvoni + ribavirin for 12 wks. My spleen and part of stomach and diaphragm was removed, lucky it had not spread ("spleen the size of a basketball" surgeon said, 4hrs in surgery). I'm hoping my chance of cancer returning will be less once I complete treatment which will start May 1st ( 68 in May - not a young body).

[lporterrn]

Thanks for the reminder RicPark - Unlike hepatocellular carcinoma, the lymphoma (NHL) risk is higher in the early stages of hep C. Good luck with your treatment. Hope this puts NHL to rest.

[ricpark]

I've had hep c for about 50 years ( havent touched drugs since teen) only found out about 15 years ago. Early was not for me. I have been doing the home wishful thinking supplements. Milk thistle, cats claw etc.