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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 St.
1st Floor Cafeteria
1st Tuesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Kim: (303)862-0407
Englewood
1000 Englewood Pkwy
4th Tuesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Deidrea: (805)444-0046
Lakewood
11500 W. 20th
2nd Tuesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Betsy: (303)237-1150
HIV/HCV Positive
1735 York
4th Tuesday
5:30 - 7 pm
Kim: (303)862-0407
Statewide
Boulder
YWCA 2222 14th St.
EDGE Classroom
2nd Wednesday
6 - 7:30 pm
Carrie: (303)875-2568
CO Springs
825 E. Pikes Peak Ave.
5th Floor Dining Room
3rd Thursday
7 - 8:30 pm
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 Rd.
Building A
1st Wednesday
5:15 - 6:45 pm
Rainy: (970)208-4507
Pueblo
Main Library
100 E. Abriendo Ave.
Room 211
3rd Monday
6 - 7:30 pm
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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Dear Reader,
Welcome to the May 2010 edition of
Connections! |
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month!
The annual observance of Hepatitis Awareness Month raises awareness about the global impact of viral hepatitis and the importance of preventing hepatitis-related liver disease, including liver cancer. To recognize this month-long event, Hep C Connection will be organizing and/or participating in the following activities: |
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2010 Colorado Viral Hepatitis Conference
Topics and Highlights Include:
- Hepatitis B & C Colorado Clinical Care Guidelines - Immigrant/Refugee Track - Social Justice Track - Substance Abuse Track When: Wednesday, May 12th, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Where: University of Colorado, Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus Research Building 2, Room 2105 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora 80045 Cost: $45 registration fee (includes breakfast, lunch and all conference materials, but not parking) Who should attend: Public health workers, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Social Workers, Case Managers, Mental Health Treatment Providers, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Providers and Correctional Staff. Why you should attend: To increase your knowledge about hepatitis C, other forms of viral hepatitis and HIV/HCV co-infection to best serve your infected or at-risk patients and clients. How to register: Please contact Laura Ginnett at (720) 917 - 3960 or lginnett@hepc-connection.org by May 7th.
Drop to Stop
Used needles on the ground or in the trash can spread diseases like hepatitis, HIV, and other blood-borne infections. Do your part to prevent disease and injury! Monday, May 17th through Friday, May 21st is Needle Disposal Week. The following Colorado locations will be collecting used needles from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm:
- Boulder County AIDS Project: 2118 14th St., Boulder
- Harm Reduction Action Center: 775 Lipan St., Denver
- Northern Colorado AIDS Project: 400 Remington St. #100, Ft. Collins
- Project Safe: 1741 Vine St., Denver
- Southern Colorado AIDS Project: 1301 S. 8th St. Ste. 200, Colorado Springs
- Urban Peak Outreach: 2100 Stout St., Denver
For more information call (720) 917 - 3960.
World Hepatitis Day is May 19th
Hep C Connection will celebrate World Hepatitis Day by participating in Recovery at the Capital 2010, hosted by Surrounded by Recovery. Surrounded by Recovery Colorado is a group of individuals in long-term recovery from substance abuse who are committed to spreading the word that recovery is possible and does happen. To educate and encourage others about recovery, they are hosting the third annual "Recovery at the Capitol 2010" event. On the West steps of the Colorado State Capital on Wednesday May, 19, 2010, between the hours of 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, they will have speakers and informational booths from agencies within the state that provide services or support for those in recovery. You can visit http://surroundedbyrecovery.org/ for more information. In addition to speaking at the event, Hep C Connection will be conducting testing and providing information. A call to action! "This is Hepatitis: A March on Washington, D.C." is a World Hepatitis Day rally sponsored by the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable to demand that Congress fully fund hepatitis programs in the U.S. You can find more information, register for, or endorse the event at http://www.nvhr.org/. | |
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| Proclamation |
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper have proclaimed May 2010 Hepatitis Awareness Month in the state of Colorado, acknowledging that:
- Hepatitis C is a viral disease, usually transmitted through contact with infected blood, which causes severe damage to the liver over time;
- Chronic Hepatitis C is a silent killer, often displaying no recognizable signs or symptoms until irreversible liver damage has already occurred;
- Chronic Hepatitis C has been characterized as a disease of primary concern, and is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States;
- An estimated 85,000 Coloradoans are infected with chronic Hepatitis C, and early diagnosis and treatment can save lives;
- In the absence of a vaccine for Hepatitis C, efforts toward awareness and prevention must be focused in other areas, including educating those with the highest risk of infection;
- The state of Colorado is committed to raising awareness of this devastating disease. |
| Syringe Exchange Bill |
Colorado is one step closer to allowing syringe exchange, thanks to Senator Pat Steadman and Representative Paul Weissmann. The legislation recognizes the significant public health problem posed by used syringes and would allow county health departments to decide if a syringe exchange program is right for their communities. Senate Bill 189 (SB189) was approved by the full Senate 24 - 10. It then moved to the Houses Health Committee and was approved 11 - 0. The full House will consider the bill in early May. |
| Articles of Interest |
IOM Report Says Primary Care Doctors Lack Knowledge about Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
By David Mitchell (4/7/2010) According to a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), inadequate resources are being allocated to viral hepatitis prevention, control and surveillance programs in the United States, and a lack of awareness among health care professionals and people in at-risk populations is creating a barrier to prevention and control efforts. Many health care providers - especially primary care health professionals - are unaware of the high prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection in some U.S. populations and often fail to identify infected individuals and those at risk for infection so they can be managed appropriately, says the report. However, some of the actions recommended in the report - specifically those related to screening - conflict with existing guidelines from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Read More
New Biomarker Could Lead to the World's First Reliable Test for Liver Cancer
By healthcanal.com (4/8/2010) Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and one of the deadliest cancers since it is rarely diagnosed until late in its development. The lack of reliable screening tests for liver cancer contributes to its high mortality rate since tumors seldom cause symptoms until the later stages when treatment options become limited and the prognosis is poorer. Death usually occurs not long after diagnosis. But that might be about to change, according to Dr. Claus Fimmel, a hepatologist who is involved in an international study of a protein that is shaping up as a promising basis for the development of an effective liver-cancer screening test for high-risk patients. Read More |
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A Personal Story | |
Hello Everyone,
My name is Scot and I'm from a ski town in Canada. I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1999. It was the scariest thing in my life - worse than any of the broken bones I have incurred over the years (from sports). I had been feeling horrible and no doctor could figure out why, and after getting rounds of testing, I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Once I found out, I decided to wait on getting the cocktail treatment, partly due to fear and partly because my ALT tests and liver biopsy results were only at mild-moderate levels.
Years later, after starting to feel this very strange sort of horrible feeling, I decided I should go through with treatment. I went back to my doctor (who was on my side as far as waiting for a better treatment option) and we started discussing treatment. He suggested that before I start the interferon mix I might try an anti-depressant. Holy Cow, after two weeks I was feeling like a little kid again. It was nothing short of amazing. After about six to seven years of feeling horrible, I was beyond back to normal; I was on cloud nine. I cannot even express how I feel. Beforehand, I was certain something was killing me inside everyday. I started anti-depressants two years ago and I still feel great.
The point of my story is that depression in Hep C -positive patients is a serious issue and should definitely be investigated. At the moment I continue to live a very full fun life, though I didn't go through treatment and of course I continue to monitor my ALTs. I hope this story will help others who live with HCV and I encourage you all to discuss depression with your doctor.
- Scot |
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A Call for your Hepatitis C Story | |
If you have a personal story that you are willing to share with our e-newsletter readers, or with a wider audience for 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 efforts to cope, manage, and/or care for themselves while living with Hep C. For consideration or to share your personal story, please e-mail us at info@hepc-connection.org. |
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Seeking Volunteers! | |
Hep C Connection is looking for outreach volunteers for the following upcoming events:
1) PrideFest Denver is on June 19th and 20th. We will be present to conduct testing and provide education. More information on our exact timing and location to come!
2) The Ladies Run is July 10th and 11th in Fairplay, Colorado. We will be offering information and testing.
3) AIDS Walk Colorado is Saturday, August 14th. Hep C Connection has been registered as a team and we are seeking both team members and donations. You can donate to our team by going to: www.aidswalkcolorado.org, clicking on "Donate," then "Support a Team" and then searching by first name Urva.
4) The Salute to American Veterans Rally is August 20th - 22nd in Cripple Creek, Colorado. We will be there to provide education and hopefully testing as well.
If you are interested in participating in any of these events, please contact Urva Kuzma at (303) 860 - 0800, extension 3972 or ukuzma@hepc-connection.org. |
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