Is No Treatment Better Than Treatment?

Well, it’s time to admit that treatment with Dr. Zhang’s Modern Chinese Medicine protocol has not had the hoped for results. When I say hoped for results I mean that this chronic viral infection continues to at times interefere with my life, causing me to miss work, cancel social engagements (had to miss my Grandmother’s 84^th birthday party this past weeknend which was very discouraging) etc.

On the other hand I am far better off than I was at this time last year when I was the illest I had ever been due to this condition. How much did Dr. Zhang’s herbal protocol contribute to this improvement over the last year or how much was simply the result of the body’s natural ability to heal itself I cannot say?

At any rate, thinking about all of this over the last few days as I’ve once again been feeling ill has led me to the conclusion that for this particular viral illness no treatment at all may in fact be preferable to the current standard medically accepted treatment for Chronic Hep C infection. Consider the following which comes directly from the website of the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

What are the chances of persons with HCV infection developing long term infection, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, or dying as a result of hepatitis C?
Of every 100 persons infected with HCV about:

• 55-85 of persons might develop long-term infection
• 70 persons might develop chronic liver disease
• 5-20 persons might develop cirrhosis over a period of 20 to 30 years
• 1-5 of persons might die from the consequences of long term infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis)

What is the treatment for chronic hepatitis C?
Combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the treatment of choice resulting in sustained response rates of 40%-80%. (up to 50% for patients infected with the most common genotype found in the U.S. [genotype 1] and up to 80% for patients infected with genotypes 2 or 3). Interferon monotherapy is generally reserved for patients in whom ribavirin is contraindicated. Ribavirin, when used alone, does not work. Combination therapy using interferon and ribavirin is now FDA approved for the use in children aged 3-17 years.

What are the side effects of interferon therapy?
Most persons have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, fast heart rate) early in treatment, but these lessen with continued treatment. Later side effects may include tiredness, hair loss, low blood count, trouble with thinking, moodiness, and depression. Severe side effects are rare (seen in less than 2 out of 100 persons). These include thyroid disease, depression with suicidal thoughts, seizures, acute heart or kidney failure, eye and lung problems, hearing loss, and blood infection. Although rare, deaths have occurred due to liver failure or blood infection, mostly in persons with cirrhosis. An important side effect of interferon is worsening of liver disease with treatment, which can be severe and even fatal. Interferon dosage must be reduced in up to 40 out of 100 persons because of severity of side effects, and treatment must be stopped in up to 15 out of 100 persons. Pregnant women should not be treated with interferon.

What are the side effects of combination (ribavirin + interferon) treatment?
In addition to the side effects due to interferon described above, ribavirin can cause serious anemia (low red blood cell count) and can be a serious problem for persons with conditions that cause anemia, such as kidney failure. In these persons, combination therapy should be avoided or attempts should be made to correct the anemia. Anemia caused by ribavirin can be life-threatening for persons with certain types of heart or blood vessel disease. Ribavirin causes birth defects and pregnancy should be avoided during treatment. Patients and their healthcare providers should carefully review the product manufacturer information prior to treatment.

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To sum it all up, only 1-5 % of persons with Chronic Hepatis C infection might die from the consequences of long term infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis). Is this small percentage of risk worth the many side effects of the current medically prescribed treatment of choice, especially when the current treatment, ribavirin + interferon, is only effective for up to 50% of patients infected with the most common genotype found in the U.S. [genotype 1]!!!! Is this 50% chance worth all the risks of combination therapy? For myself, I had to answer no. After all, death is not the problem, we're all going to die. Life is the challenge and at this point I don't need the added challenge of combo therapy side effects.

For myself, medical science is going to have to give me better odds than the above. This is why, for now, I choose non-treatment over treatment. I will continue to strive to live a quality life, do what I can to better my health through practical means, good diet, meditation, exercise, positive frame of mind and perhaps more importantly in the words of Warren Zevon, “enjoy every sandwich”.

This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it! -Psalms 118:24