February 2003
Want to keep receiving this Newsletter? During the next few weeks, our funding and subscription renewal campaign will occur. This is it. To those of you for whom we have a mailing address, we will send a Statement Envelope. To stay on our subscription list, mail back that envelope (or respond by email). If you can, please include payment as noted in the box at the lower right.
February 19 -- Jennifer Sadugor of the Yoga Solution

*SCC Classrooms 3 & 4 (attached flyer mistakenly shows Classrooms A & B)
Certified Yoga Instructor focusing on breathwork and postures to induce deep relaxation. Fibromyalgia and arthritis, which may be associated with HCV, can be improved.

Upcoming Agendas:
Meeting Agenda:
6:30 p.m. (sharp) - Theme Song: I Will Survive
6:35 - 6:45 Announcements
6:45 - 8:15 Jennifer Sadugor
8:15 - 8:45 (or earlier) questions/answers 'til we adjourn

March 19 -- Clsrm 3&4 -- Cara Bruce and Lisa Montanarelli
April 16 -- Rm 220 -- Roche provided health professional
May 21 -- Clsrm 3&4 -- Dr. Wakil
Next Quarterly Business Meeting

Details in next newsletter
More News
Our Meetings: 3rd Wednesdays of every month; at SCC (Sutter Cancer Center, aka: Buhler Bldg) classroom 3&4 or Room 220; 2800 L St (@ 28th & L: kitty corner across from the 2-story parking & across L St. from Sutter Hospital)
Contact Us: Phone number: (916) 444-6996
Our Web Site> www.sacmall.net/transplant/hepc.html
Email: dck@innercite.com (include "I Will Survive" in subject line or your message might be delected before being read).
*Time to renew your subscription to I Will Survive. Members who could not contribute last year want to thank those of you whose paid subscriptions made it possible for them to receive this newsletter. Hopefully, some more of you will be able to provide financial AND leadership support for 2003.
If you want to be included on our mailing/emailing list and you can afford to include a donation, make it to "I Will Survive, The Effort", P.O. Bx 2180, Loomis, CA 95650 for:
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$ 0 if, right now, you can't afford to pay dues. In which case "I Will Survive" will mail monthly Newsletters to you. Please contribute to the "Donations" Box at the meetings as you are able.

From the Jan.-Mar. 2003 Hepatitis Magazine:
...Prepare for interferon-based therapy. Abstain from alcohol 6 months before and then during therapy. Consider whether you should reduce the fat content of your diet. Tone up your immune system; for that, consider acupuncture, stress reduction (biofeedback, meditation, visualization, art/music/dance therapy, prayer, laughter, rest), massage therapy, exercise, herbal therapy and anti-oxidant nutritional supplements.
Anticipate physical effects such as fever, chills, fatigue, sweating, muscle aches (myalgia) and/or joint pain. Talk with your friends, family and colleagues before starting therapy and continue talking to them then while you're on it.

From the Feb. 2003 HCVAdvocate:
...Although Heptazyme showed antiviral activity against hepatitis C, HCV-RNA did not become undetectable in any study participants. Heptazyme will no longer be tested in trials for the treatment of hepatitis C.
...Some new drug therapies are/will be targeted to stop the action of the viral enzymes which are crucial for HCV replication and infection of new cells. This approach has been quite successful in HIV treatment.However, HIV protease is aspartase based, while HCV protease is serine based; and therefore, HIV type protease inhibitors have no effect on HCV replication.Viramidine, an oral ribavirin prodrug appears to result in reduced hemolytic anemia (compared with standard ribavirin) which will allow for flexibility in higher dosing. BILN 2061, an oral inhibitor of NS3 serine-protease appears to be the most promising future HCV drug. Preliminary studies have recorded considerable declines in HCV RNA viral load within just 48 hours of initiation of therapy.
...The known array of cancers and relative risks of contracting them as a result of smoking has greatly increased by research conducted over the last several years. Smoke, like other chemicals introduced into the body, is metabolized through the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system which normally converts toxic substances into nontoxic ones. However, for a person living with hepatitis C, it appears that hepatotoxic by-products are formed. As accumulations build up, the liver is damaged and unrelated therapeutic drug treatment may become ineffective as the presence of other chemical build-ups (may) nullify the expected effects medicines. As the toxins accumulate, they begin to circulate causing damage throughout the body. Now, in addition to having to treat the hepatitis, doctors must consider that the patient's body contains numerous unknown free radicals which may cause unexpected reactions and side-effects. Previous studies of the effects of alcohol on hepatitis C did not consider that many of the subjects were smokers as well as drinkers. It may well be that many of the hepatotoxic effects ascribed to alcohol are actually due to smoking.

If you have no money or insurance call:
Sacramento Clinical Trials
Schering's Commitment to Care 1-800-521-7157
Infergen's Safety Net Program 1-888-508-8088
Roche's Patient Assistance 1-800-443-6676
Dr. Gish, et al, call: Pacific Hepatology, (916) 443-0503
Dr. Pimstone UCD Med Center, (916) 734-1557
Dr. Rossaro UCD Med Cntr, call: Katherine Suggett (916) 734-8696



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