March
2001
May 5, in Auburn will be the Liver Foundation walk-a-thon. Help us meet the required $75 in pledges to qualify for participation and then walk
with your I WILL SURVIVE team. After this newsletter, we will delete from our mailing lists any who have not verified their addresses by sending us confirmation in the U.S. mail in 2001. Use the envelope mailed to you to simply check off that we have your correct address(es) and instructions for distributing this newsletter. And, if right now you can afford to, please send payment as described in the box on the bottom right.
Support Group Members Interact (No Guest Speaker) -- Mar 21

We will share our concerns, strengths and ideas.
Location: SCC Classrm 3&4 (see "Our Meetings" below right)
Upcoming Agendas:

Meeting Agenda:
6:30 p.m. (sharp) - Theme Song: I Will Survive
6:35 - 6:45 announcements
6:45 - 8:00 give and receive support
8:00 - 8:30 (or earlier) questions/answers 'til we adjourn
Apr 18 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
May 16 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
June 20 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
July 18 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
Aug 15 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
Sep 19 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
Oct 17 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
Our Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of every month at SCC (Sutter Cancer Center), 2800 L St (kitty corner across from the 2-story parking structure that is located at 28th & L Streets which is across 28th Street from Sutter Hospital).
Contact Us: Phone number: (916) 491-4942
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 our newsletter. Hopefully, some more of you will be able to provide support for 2001.

If you want to be included on our mailing/emailing list and you can afford to include a check, make it to Eve Cragen, Treasurer I Will Survive, P.O. Bx 2180, Loomis, CA 95650, for:
$24 if you want the Newsletter by U.S. mail
$15 if you get the Newsletter from the website (if you wish, each month we'll email a link to you)
$ 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.
Nov 21 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
Dec 19 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
More News

At our Feb 21 meeting, Lorenzo Rossaro, M.D. (UCD Medical hepatologist) observed that:
...the liver, is, contrary to common opinion, not a filter. That's what the kidney does. The liver has far more extensive functions.
...under a special condition, he does not recommend a liver biopsy for a patient who has tested positive for HCV; that condition would be a young woman who is genotype 2 or 3.
...RBV affect the red blood cells (those that carry oxygen). Interferon affects white blood cells and platelets
...There is little therapeutic difference between the effects of interferon and pegylated interferon for patients who are genotype 2 and 3
The Mar 01 HCV Advocate reported:
...a personal story of purchasing life insurance just after having received a diagnosis of HCV. The article cautions against working with agents and insurance companies that are not knowledgeable about this disease. There are capable insurance agents who do know how to work with the existing system.
...Alternate methods of administering interferon that are under study include suppositories, nasal and oral methods.
...Viragen, Inc. has a "multi-subtype alpha-interferon" currently in Phase 2 trials in Europe. This compound is obtained from discarded leukocytes obtained from typical filtration of blood.
The Mar '01 Self Healing by Andrew Weil suggests the following for stuffy sinuses: ...You can thin mucus and ease congestion with fresh horesradish. To prepare, peel and cut a horseradish root into chunks, grind in a food processor, add enough white vinegar to moisten, and salt to taste. Eat it in sufficient quantity to make your nose run. (Wasabi--Japanese horseradish--also works well.) I don't think prepared horseradish holds a candle to the fresh stuff, but it's better than nothing.

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: Leslie Davison, (916) 443-0534
Dr. Pimstone UCD Med Center, (916) 734-1557
Dr. Rossaro UCD Med Cntr, call: Jaime Erhardt (916) 734-8696



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