New Drugs and starting treatment

[Guest guest]

I have been a member of the group since Jan. 2011. I have been on treatment twice for Hep C type 1A with no success. I was a non-responder both times with both Ribavirin and Inferferon the 1st time and Riba and Infergen the 2nd. Had to stop treatment very early for anemia. Took both Procrit and Neupogen with no success. Spoke to my Doc yesterday about starting the new triple treatment, same drugs but adding Incivek or Boceprevir. I had Thyroid Cancer last year and had my thyroid removed which may exclude me for future studies. I'm leary about starting due to the fact that there are new drug studies going on with 2 new drugs and if I fail with either of these(Incivek or Boceprevir) I will not be able to begin once the new meds are put on the market for treatment because Incivek and Boceprevir are part of the drugs which will be added to the 2 new drugs. She did not say the name of the new meds but I

looked up some studies and they may be very successful. They probably will not become available for at least 2 years. Iam in Stage 3 fibrosis or early stage 4 according to my last biopsy done last year. I contacted the virus in 1980 from an auto accident in which I needed blood tranfusions, but it was not detected un 1991. So, I have been having Hep C for quite a long time. I'm not concerned about the side effects because I know what to expect and have a wonderful Husband who once again will help me through. We are raising 3 of our Grandchildren age 14, 16 and 6 years of age, which will be challenging. I really would like to start treatment but am afraid of failing again. She said my success rate at best is about 32%. Of course it could be better or worse. So do I take the chance of failing again or wait longer for the new drugs to become available? Oh...and Iam 64 years old and plan on living for a long time. I have a Grandson getting

married next month, 6 children and 16 Grandchildren. So I will have a lot of support and a lot to keep on keeping on for. Any advice will be helpful. This is a great group and I wish everyone the best of luck with this dreadful condition we are all so unfortunate to have.