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Join Our List
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Colorado
Hepatitis C Support Groups
For individuals infected with hepatitis C and family members affected by hepatitis C. Free and confidential monthly meetings. New members always welcome.
Metro-Denver
Aurora 900 Potomac, 1st Floor Staff Cafeteria, 1st Tuesday 6:30 - 8pm, Kim (303)862-0407
Englewood 1000 Englewood Pkwy, 4th Tuesday 6:30 - 8pm, Deidrea (805) 444-0046
Lakewood 11500 W. 20th,
2nd Tuesday 6:30 - 8pm, Betsy (303) 237-1150
HIV/HCV Positive 1735 York 4th Tuesday 5:30-7pm, Kim (303)862-0407
Statewide
Boulder
YWCA 2222 14th St., EDGE Classroom, 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6 -7:30pm Carrie (303) 875-2568
CO Springs
825 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 5th Floor Dining Rm, 3rd Thursday of the month, 7 - 8:30pm, Dave (719) 440-0025
Ft. Collins
2809 E. Harmony, 3rd Floor, Last Wednesday 6:30 - 8 pm, Jerry (970) 214-2912
Grand Junction
515 28 3/4 Road Bldg A, 1st Wed. 5:15-6:45 pm, Rainy (970) 208-4507
Pueblo
Main Pueblo Library 100 East Abriendo Ave., Rm 211, 3rd Monday, 6 - 7:30pm, Dave (719) 440-0025
For information regarding support groups in other states, please call our HelpLine at 800-522-HEPC (4372) |
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Greetings!
Welcome to the February 2010 edition of
Connections! |
New Members Join Hep C Connection's Board
Hep C Connection's Board of Directors unanimously approved the election of two new Board members at its November Board meeting. Vanessa Fenley is the Prevention Coordinator in the Denver Office of Drug Strategy for the City of Denver and brings to the position an expertise on providing programs that will reduce the incidence of hepatitis C to those at greatest risk. Greg Glischinski is a volunteer Legislative Advocate for AARP and is very familiar with the corridors of Colorado's State Capitol. They both began their three year terms on January 1, 2010.
For information on becoming a Hep C Connection Board Member contact Executive Director, Nancy Steinfurth at nsteinfurth@hepc-connection.org. |
| Hepatitis Prevention and Policy: Landmark Report |
In 2008 the Institute of Medicine (IOM), at the request of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) formed the Committee on the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis Infections. The committee was created to assess how the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are currently being prevented and controlled in the United States. Although efforts are being made to prevent and control the viruses at the federal, state, and local levels, HBV and HCV are widespread and continue to be of significant concern. The IOM's recent report, "Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C," explains the findings. In order for prevention and control efforts to be effective the following factors need to be addressed: surveillance, knowledge and awareness, immunization, and viral hepatitis services. The report calls for a strengthening of connections between federal, state, and local levels to effectively prevent and control HBV and HCV. The committee ultimately found that without change to current prevention and control approaches, more Americans will die annually from chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C related health problems such as liver cancer or liver disease. Click here for a summary of the report |
| Treatment Updates |
Management of chronic hepatitis C patients who have relapsed or not responded to pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin
by Dieterich DT, Rizzetto and M, Manns
SUMMARY: The development of therapeutic strategies for patients with chronic hepatitis C who experience virological breakthrough, relapse or nonresponse lag behind those for patients who have not been treated. The probability of a previously treated patient responding to re-treatment depends on the nature of the previous regimen, the magnitude of the response to previous treatment and the patient's characteristics. In this article, published early in 2010, the researchers conclude that, after careful evaluation of an individual's benefit-risk ratio, a 72-week regimen is the preferred strategy for optimizing sustained response rates in patients who have not responded to the standard of care, provided that viral RNA is undetectable at week 12 of re-treatment.
Schering-Plough Completes Enrollment of Boceprevir Registration Studies in Treatment-Naive and Treatment-Experienced HCV Patients
by Schering-Plough Corporation
PRESS RELEASE: "We believe boceprevir has the potential to be a first-in-class and best-in-class protease inhibitor for treating chronic hepatitis C," said Thomas P. Koestler, Ph.D., executive vice president and president, Schering-Plough Research Institute. "We are very encouraged by the boceprevir study results reported to date and look forward to the completion of these registration studies." The Company expects to complete the studies in mid-2010.
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| Calling All Those With Hepatitis C |
Telling your story can be healing and empowering. Your experience lets other people with hepatitis C know they are not alone and that life can still be lived to the maximum quality and enjoyment. Your story gives others hope for seeking support and pursuing a healthy lifestyle even with hep C. Giving the disease a human face not only raises awareness; it also gives the community a sense of urgency in supporting prevention and treatment.
If you have a personal story that you are willing to share with our monthly e-newsletter readers, or to wider audiences in honor of World Hepatitis Day, we want to share your words with our supporters and others facing hepatitis C. Personal experiences can include stories from you or someone that you know and support in their endeavor to cope, manage and/ or care for themselves while living with hep C.
For consideration or questions to share your personal story, please e-mail us at info@hepc-connection.org. |
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Free Hep C Treatment Options Available |
Clinical trials offer an opportunity for those with hepatitis C to access free treatment options, regardless of medical coverage. Typically, all of the procedures and testing associated with the trials are also free. And, depending on the trial, there may even be mileage or travel reimbursement available.
Here are some people to contact about the many clinical trials going on right now in the state of Colorado:
Lauren Smith
Clinical Research Department
South Denver Gastroenterology
(303) 406-4288
Jennifer DeSanto
Hepatology Research Lead Coordinator
University of Colorado Denver
(303) 724-1861
Here are several websites to access for information on clinical trials outside of Colorado:
www.clinicaltrials.gov
www.centerwatch.com
www.ifpma.org/clinicaltrials |
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February 4th is World Cancer Day |
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"Cancer can be prevented too," is the slogan of this year's World Cancer Day, February 4th. Organized by the International Union Against Cancer and supported by the World Health Organization and World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), the day will be focused on raising awareness of cancer-causing viruses.
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) continue to be a global epidemic. If left undiagnosed and untreated they can lead to liver cancer. According to WHA, it's estimated that 80% of liver cancer worldwide is caused by the long-term effects of these viruses. It's time to wake up. To reduce the transmission of HBV and HCV and thus prevent liver cancer, awareness is imperative. To learn more about HBV prevention, visit the Hepatitis B Foundation at www.hepb.org or call 215-489-4900. For information regarding HCV prevention, visit Hep C Connection at www.hepc-connection.org or call 800-522-HEPC (4372).
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African American Health Fair in Colorado Springs February 20th |
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Hep C Connection is participating in Memorial Hospital's African American Family Health Fair in Colorado Springs on Saturday, February 20, 2010. The event is taking place at the Hillside Community Center from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is one of many outreach events Hep C Connection participates in. Similarly, we participated in the Center for African American Health's 8th Annual Health Fair on January 30, 2010. Hep C Connection feels that it is important for us to reach out to the African American community as African Americans are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact us!
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May 19th is World Hepatitis Day |
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Join us to raise hepatitis awareness worldwide. Be a part of international events planned for the second annual World Hepatitis Day May 19th.
Last year, in Brazil 300,000 were tested for the virus and Brazilian lawmakers helped pass the World Health Organization's resolution on viral hepatitis at the World Health Assembly. Hep C Connection will be joining the international community on World Hepatitis Day to host many Denver events including a Drop to Stop needle disposal campaign. Hep C Connection staff and volunteers will be gathering at the corner of Broadway and Colfax Wednesday, May 19th to offer free hep C testing and informational materials promoting prevention and support to those living with the virus. Denver City Council and other local lawmakers will proclaim May 19th a day of hepatitis awareness, education and prevention.
An estimated 4 million are infected with the virus in the U.S. alone! Together, we can all take steps to reduce the risk and raise awareness about hepatitis C around the world. | |
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