Tx MAG! #25 by HepatitisNSW

OVER TWENTY YEARS WITH HEP C AND NOW I FINALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO BE CURED!

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR!

EDITOR/DESIGNER Grace Crowley

Hey Tx!-ians!

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Welcome to edition #25 of Tx! Mag.

Tim Baxter Jenny Douglas Paul Harvey Alastair Lawrie Sonam Paljor Lucy Pepolim Kate Pinnock Shana Quayle Rhea Shortus Megan Stapleton Robert Wisniewski

New treatments for hep C have been available through GPs since March 2016 with even newer medicines being approved for the PBS since then. For that reason Tx! Mag will be focusing more on treatment for hep C in many of our upcoming issues. In this edition you'll meet Sam and Clara who have both been living with hep C for many years. Sam, who also has cirrhosis, wasn't able to clear the virus using the old interferon treatment and Clara has been unwilling to try it. But now - with new, very effective and affordable treatments available - can they be convinced to have treatment for their hep C and live hep free? You'll have to read to find out! Please enjoy their story. Cheers! Grace Tx! Mag Ed Aside from Hepatitis NSW editorial content, views expressed in this magazine or flyers enclosed with it are not necessarily those of Hepatitis NSW or the organisations with whom we collaborate. Neither are such views necessarily those of our funding bodies. Tx! Mag does not promote or condone the use of illicit drugs. Rather, it seeks to provide accurate information that will help people who already use drugs to reduce risks and make safer choices. Nothing in this magazine should be taken as recommending drug use. If you are a youth worker or health worker and would like to know more about how your clients can contribute to the development of Tx! Mag call the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990 or email info@hep.org.au

COMIC WRITER Lawrence Gergich COMIC ARTIST Emily K. Smith gestaltcomics.com

Hepatitis Infoline 1800 803 990 (freecall) Hepatitis NSW p: 02 9332 1853 e: info@hep.org.au w: hep.org.au fb: facebook.com/HepNSW tw: @HepatitisNSW PO Box 432 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300 Level 4, 414 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 Hepatitis NSW is proud to acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional owners and custodians of our lands and waters. ABN 30 408 095 245 A non-profit health promotion charity funded by the NSW Ministry of Health. Accredited by the Quality Improvement Council of Australia (QIC). Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

CH-CH-CHANGES rrringg

SAM.

...ZZZ...

…AND FOR NEXT WEEK’S CLASS | NEED YOU TO READ CHAPTER 2… AND, UH… ANY PROBLEMS, SEND ME AN EMAIL.

OK… WELL… SEE YOU LATER…

OH HEY, OLI. MEH, NOTHING MUCH, JUST GOING TO SEE MY DOCTOR... ...BUT |’M FREE THIS EVENING.

YEAH, IT'LL BE FUN TO CATCH UP WITH YOU AND THE GUYS. NAH, | DON'T MIND BEING THE DESIGNATED DRIVER... NO CHOICE ANYWAY SINCE |'M NOT DRINKING.

t bzz t bzz

{SIGH}

OK. SEE YOU TONIGHT, MATE.

SOON... SAM'S LIVER SPECIALIST

YOUR LATEST ULTRASOUND AND BLOOD TESTS LOOK MUCH THE SAME, WHICH IS GOOD.

YOUR CIRRHOSIS HASN'T PROGRESSED... SO YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING MY ADVICE, THEN?

SURE, DOC. NO ALCOHOL FOR NINE MONTHS NOW... ...STILL DOESN'T HELP WITH MY HEP C THOUGH.

TRUE... BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME FANTASTIC NEWS ON THAT FRONT.

SOME AMAZING NEW HEP C DRUGS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE PBS*. THEY'RE DIRECT ACTING ANTI-VIRAL TABLETS, VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD INTERFERON TREATMENT.

* PBS = PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SCHEME. GPs (FAMILY DOCTORS) CAN TREAT HEP C PATIENTS WITH MINIMAL LIVER DAMAGE BUT SPECIALIST DOCTORS MUST HANDLE HEP C PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS AND OTHER TRICKY CASES.

NOT INTERESTED, DOC. |'VE BEEN THROUGH TREATMENT TWICE BEFORE AND GOT NOWHERE.

THAT INTERFERON STUFF MADE ME SICK AS A DOG AND DIDN'T CURE ME ANYWAY.

| UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATIONS, SAM - BUT THE NEW TREATMENTS HAVE FAR FEWER SIDE EFFECTS WITH HIGH CHANCES OF CURE.

NO CATCH. SINCE YOU HAVE THE GENOTYPE 1A OF HEP C, |'D RECOMMEND HARVONI.

WHAT'S THE CATCH? FOR HOW LONG?

BECAUSE OF YOUR CIRRHOSIS IT'D HAVE TO BE 24 WEEKS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ONE TABLET A DAY.

YES. | THINK YOU'D BE VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.

|'VE HAD HEP C FOR SO LONG NOW | FIGURED |'D ALWAYS HAVE IT. BUT THIS SOUNDS GOOD... |'D LIKE TO GIVE IT A GO.

NOT BAD... STILL BEATS ELEVEN MONTHS ON INTERFERON.

GREAT! LET'S GET STARTED.

|'LL WRITE THOSE REFERRALS... THE RESULTS WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO ME. DUE TO THE AND |'D LIKE CIRRHOSIS YOU'LL TO SEE YOU NEED BLOOD TESTS AGAIN IN THREE EVERY MONTH MONTHS, AT THE WHILE YOU'RE ON HALFWAY POINT. TREATMENT.

TWO DAYS LATER. HERE'S YOUR MEDICATION, SAM. THAT'LL BE $38.30*

* HEP C MEDICATIONS LISTED ON THE PBS COST $38.30 EACH TIME YOU GET YOUR PRESCRIPTION FILLED - OR $6.20 IF YOU HAVE A CONCESSION CARD.

THANKS FOR ORDERING THIS IN FOR ME.

NO WORRIES.

THIS IS A FOUR WEEK SUPPLY. JUST REMEMBER TO LET US KNOW A FEW DAYS BEFORE YOU NEED THE NEXT SCRIPT FILLED SO WE CAN GET IT FOR YOU.

SURE THING.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE YOUR DOSE EVERY DAY, DON'T FORGET.

YEAH, MY DOC ALREADY DRILLED THAT INTO ME. SEE YOU IN A MONTH FOR THE NEXT BATCH.

JUST HOPE THESE PILLS WORK AS GOOD AS EVERYONE SAYS...

SHORTLY...

HMM? HI, SAM!

THIS IS MY SISTER, ELEANORA. OH CLARA, HI!

HI! JUST CALL ME "EL".

HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE. YES, TOO BUSY WITH WORK AND THEN TOO TIRED AFTERWARDS.

HI, EL. SAM'S OUR NEIGHBOUR.

COOL. |'LL BE SEEING YOU AROUND, THEN.

|'M STAYING WITH BIG SIS AND HER HUBBY FOR A WHILE.

| KNOW THAT FEELING. IT'LL BE LIKE HAVING A KID AT HOME AGAIN.

HA! WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.

SOON...

SHE SEEMS NICE.

WELL, HERE GOES NOTHING.

DAY 1 WEEK 1 SCRIPT 1

DAY 9 WEEK 2 SCRIPT 1

DAY 22 WEEK 4 SCRIPT 1

ONLY SIX LEFT. BETTER NOT FORGET TO CALL THE CHEMIST TO LET THEM KNOW | NEED MY SCRIPT FILLED IN A FEW DAYS.

REALLY THOUGHT |'D BE THROWING UP BY NOW... SO GLAD TO BE WRONG.

DAY 43 WEEK 7 SCRIPT 2

ALMOST FORGOT THIS ONE... LUCKY THAT APP I PUT ON MY PHONE REMINDED ME.

DAY 59 WEEK 9 SCRIPT 3 BLOOD TEST #2

OK. THAT'S ALL WE NEED, SAM. THE RESULTS SHOULD BE WITH YOUR DOCTOR IN A FEW DAYS.

* THERE ARE LOTS OF MEDICATION REMINDER APPS AVAILABLE - CHECK OUT PAGE 10 FOR A FEW EXAMPLES.

DAY 76 WEEK 11 SCRIPT 3

MORNING, CLARA!

BUONGIORNO*, SAM. LOOK AT YOU, UP AND AT IT SO EARLY.

* "BUONGIORNO" = ITALIAN FOR "GOOD MORNING"!

YEAH, I'VE GOT A LOT MORE ENERGY RECENTLY.

GOOD ON YOU. WOULDN'T WANT TO LEND ME SOME OF IT, WOULD YOU?

HUH. ALL THE TIME. IT'S JUST A... THING... NOT MUCH | CAN DO ABOUT IT. ANYWAY, HAVE A GREAT DAY, SAM.

STILL TIRED?

YOU TOO! SAY "HI!" TO MARCOS AND EL FOR ME. WILL DO.

<MORNING, SIS!>*

<HI, EL. SAM SAYS "HI".>

<SAM...OUR NEIGHBOUR... REMEMBER?> <HE OBVIOUSLY REMEMBERS YOU.>

<WHO?>

<HA. WHY? WAS YOUR DATE LAST NIGHT A BUST?> <UGH. TOTALLY.> * <TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN.>

<|'LL SAVE YOU THE SAD, SAD DETAILS OF MY "LOVE LIFE" BY CHANGING THE SUBJECT COMPLETELY...> <LIKE, | WAS JUST READING ABOUT THESE NEW HEP C TREATMENTS...>

<EL, YOU KNOW | DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT THAT...> <ESPECIALLY NOT WITH MARCOS AROUND.>

<OH, | DOUBT THAT.>

<HMM. MAYBE...>

STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 13...

BLAH

BLAH jargon buster BLAH

What is the difference between a FIBROSCAN and a LIVER ULTRASOUND? A liver ultrasound uses sound waves to produce a visual image of the liver, like a blurry photograph. It gives no information about the severity of liver scarring except in very extreme circumstances (like advanced cirrhosis). A FibroScan (pictured) is much more sensitive than ultrasound for identifying less severe scarring (for example, mild fibrosis). The greater sensitivity of the FibroScan allows liver scarring to be identified at an earlier stage.

LIVER ENZYMES

An "enzyme" is something produced by our body which then helps with specific body functions - for example, digestion. Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher than normal amounts of certain chemicals, including liver enzymes, into the bloodstream. This can result in high/"elevated" liver enzymes on blood tests.

CIRRHOSIS

Cirrhosis is a liver condition in which there is scarring of the liver. There are many possible causes - however the main causes are sustained excessive alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis B and C, and fatty liver disease.

“uh oh... did I take my pills today??”

MEDICATION REMINDER

APPS 4 U!

f you have been prescribed treatment for hep C you will need to take your dose, as prescribed, every day. The virus might develop resistance to the drugs if doses are missed. But as we know it can be easy to forget sometimes or to be unsure if you took your dose.

Luckily technology can help! There are many medication reminder apps for your smart phone or tablet. Here are four free apps that can be a handy way of keeping track of your dose. This is just to get you started, there are many other apps available - some free, some not. As always, take care when installing software and beware of hidden terms and costs.

App: Med Helper Platform: Android Features: Keeps track of your prescriptions; alarms to remind you when medication needs to be taken, when doctor appointments are scheduled and when meds are running low or about to expire. Google App Store User Score: 86% (from 3,428 ratings) FREE: play.google.com/store/apps

App: Pill Monitor Platform: Apple Features: Schedule reminder of your pills; customer reminder time, repeat date and dosage of pills; remind you on time; chose snooze time if not convenient to take pills; check your reminders.

App: MyMeds Platform: Apple Features: Sends daily medication and refill reminders; keeps your healthcare team and loved ones in sync with medications you’re taking; analyses your medication usage history.

App: Pill Organizer Platform: Android Features: Allows you to create various medicine taking schedules; plan when you should take tablets, pills and all other medicines; alarm functions - control when and how many tablets you take.

iTunes App Store User Score: 80% (from 16 ratings) FREE: itunes.apple.com/au (click ‘app store’)

Google App Store User Score: 86% (from 3,993 ratings) FREE: play.google.com/store/apps

iTunes App Store User Score: 76% (from 66 ratings) FREE: itunes.apple.com/au (click ‘app store’)

FORGET MASTER CHEF!! TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELF AND KEEP HEALTHY YOU ONLY NEED TO BE AN...

IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AFTER YOUR HEALTH, WHETHER YOU ARE LIVING WITH HEPATITIS OR NOT. COOKING CAN BE A CHORE BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SUPER FANCY IN THE KITCHEN TO MAKE TASTY HEALTHY MEALS FOR YOURSELF.

THIS IS A TIME HONOURED QUICK & EASY MEAL THAT CAN BE HEALTHY & FILLING - KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS YOU MIGHT HAVE WITH GLUTEN ALLERGIES, ETC. BEANS ARE VERY HIGH IN FIBRE, WHICH WILL HELP MAKE YOU MORE REGULAR ON THE LOO... AND YES, WILL PROBABLY MAKE YOU FART A FAIR BIT MORE IF YOU'RE NOT USED TO EATING THEM (SO BE GENTLE ON THOSE AROUND YOU, OK?). AVOID WHITE BREAD, IT'S RUBBISH AND HAS PRETTY MUCH NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE. YOU CAN BUY BAKED BEANS IN A CAN AT ANY SUPERMARKET. SOME BRANDS ARE HIGH IN SUGAR AND/OR SALT SO CHECK THE LABEL IF THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR YOU.

STUFF NEEDED n CAN OF BAKED BEANS n WHOLEMEAL OR WHOLEGRAIN OR SOURDOUGH BREAD

DOING IT n WARM UP THE BEANS IN A SAUCEPAN (TAKE 'EM OUT OF THE CAN FIRST!!) n LIGHTLY TOAST THE BREAD. IF YOU LIKE, YOU CAN BUTTER THE TOAST AS WELL. n POUR THE BEANS ONTO THE TOAST. YOU CAN ALSO PUT A SLICE OF CHEESE ON TOP AND LET IT MELT. n EAT!

THE NEW HEP C TREATMENTS TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, NURSE OR CLINIC ABOUT GETTING READY FOR TREATMENT

HARVONI

VIEKIRA PAK

SOVALDI & DAKLINZA

ZEPATIER

SOVALDI & IBAVYR

FOR GENOTYPE

FOR GENOTYPES

FOR GENOTYPE

SOMETIMES WITH RIBAVIRIN

FOR GENOTYPE

95%

OF PEOPLE CURED

1&3 95%

OF PEOPLE CURED

1& 4 95%

WEEKS*

95%

OF PEOPLE CURED

8,12 OR 24 12 OR 24 12 OR 24 12 OR 16 WEEKS*

WEEKS*

OF PEOPLE CURED

WEEKS*

MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO OR VERY MILD SIDE-EFFECTS

FOR MOST PEOPLE, TREATMENT IS USUALLY TAKEN FOR 12 WEEKS

PEOPLE WITH GENOTYPES 5 - 6 ARE TREATED WITH SOFOSBUVIR TAKEN WITH PEGYLATED INTERFERON AND RIBAVIRIN TREATMENT. THEY HAVE MORE THAN A 90% CHANCE OF CURE.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Call our Hepatitis Infoline 1800 803 990 12or look up our website www.hep.org.au

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8... IT'S AMAZING, MATE. |'VE GOT HEAPS MORE ENERGY AND | EVEN FEEL EXCITED TO BE GOING TO WORK.

NEXT WEEK... DAY 81 WEEK 12 SCRIPT 3

YOU'RE LOOKING HEALTHIER, THAT'S FOR SURE. OLI - SAM'S BEST MATE.

OH "HA HA". IT'S ACTUALLY EASY. AFTER A COUPLE OF CLOSE MISSES, | SET UP THIS APP, SEE?

| JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME AND BE MORE ORGANISED.

IT REMINDS ME TO TAKE MY PILLS AND EVEN TO CONTACT THE CHEMIST EARLY FOR REFILLS.

SAM BOSWORTH "ORGANISED"? NOW THAT |'D LIKE TO SEE.

|'M IMPRESSED. SO WITH ALL THESE GREAT CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE... NOW THAT YOU HAVE MORE GET UP AND GO...

...| GOTTA ASK, ARE YOU GOING TO START DATING AGAIN?

ANYWAY... IT'S BEEN FUN BUT |'VE GOT TO RUN. |M SEEING THE AND | LIVER SPECIALIST GUESS THERE FOR MY HALF WAY IS SOMEONE CHECK-UP. NICE NEXT DOOR...

NEVER SAY "NEVER", RIGHT?

GOOD LUCK, MATE.

THESE ARE EXCELLENT RESULTS, SAM. YOUR LIVER ENZYMES HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL LEVELS. YOUR VIRAL LOAD IS UNDETECTABLE.

YES, AND YOU'LL STILL NEED FIBROSCANS EVERY 6-12 MONTHS TO CHECK FOR LIVER CANCER.

AND |'VE KEPT OFF THE BOOZE. WHICH IS GREAT, BUT EVEN IF THE TREATMENT WORKS YOU SHOULD STAY ALCOHOL FREE.

BUT IF THE TREATMENT WORKS, YOUR CHANCES OF THAT HAPPENING WILL BE VERY LOW.

MY CIRRHOSIS. YEAH, | FIGURED.

THAT'S SUCH A RELIEF, DOC. AND | HAVE TO SAY, | KNOW |'M ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THIS BUT | ALREADY FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.

WILL DO. SEE YOU THEN, DOC. |'LL SEE MYSELF OUT AND LET YOU GET THAT.

RING RING SO... MONTHLY BLOOD TESTS AS BEFORE, 12 MORE WEEKS OF HARVONI, AND |'LL SEE YOU IN THREE MORE MONTHS.

HELLO, DOCTOR. SORRY TO INTERRUPT BUT | HAVE DR. MICHELLE PATTERSON ON LINE ONE FOR YOU.

HI, JOHN. | HAVE A PATIENT HERE WITH HEP C.

GREAT, PUT HER THROUGH.

SHE'D RATHER | HANDLE HER TREATMENT ON THE NEW DAAsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;|'M HAPPY TO DO THAT...

...

MICHELLE, WHAT CAN | DO FOR YOU?

...BUT |'D LIKE TO DO A QUICK PHONE CONSULT WITH YOU IF THAT'S OK?

SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HEP C IN 2000 SHE'S BUT MOST LIKELY GENOTYPE 1B, NO GOT THE VIRUS CIRRHOSIS, SHE HAS IN 1976. MANAGED IT WELL BUT HAS AVOIDED INTERFERON TREATMENT DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT SIDEEFFECTS.

ABSOLUTELY. TELL ME ABOUT HER HISTORY. SOUNDS LIKE THE NEW TREATMENT WILL BE GOOD FOR HER.

IT'S BEEN NINE MONTHS SINCE HER LAST FIBROSCAN... SO FIRST OF ALL |'LL SEND HER FOR ANOTHER ONE TO CHECK FOR ANY FIBROSIS, AND A FULL BLOOD TEST.

THAT'S WHAT | WAS THINKING, TOO. CAN | EMAIL YOU THE REMOTE CONSULTATION FORM SO YOU CAN AUTHORISE THE PRESCRIPTION?

YES, GOOD.

IF THOSE RESULTS ARE FINE, SINCE SHE'S GENOTYPE 1B, |'D SUGGEST A 12 WEEK COURSE OF VIEKIRA PAK.

SO, DR YAN CONFIRMED THE TREATMENT COURSE WE DISCUSSED. ARE YOU HAPPY TO GO AHEAD, CLARA?

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL... YES...

|'D REALLY LIKE TO...

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, JOHN. TALK LATER.

IT'S JUST... |'M STILL WORRIED ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS AND HOW OBVIOUS THEY'LL BE.

| JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO MY FRIENDS OR CO-WORKERS THAT | HAVE HEP C... AND OBVIOUS SIDE-EFFECTS MIGHT MEAN |'D NEED TO TELL THEM.

BEFORE YOU CAN START | NEED YOU TO HAVE A FIBROSCAN AND A BLOOD TEST.

WELL, THESE NEW TREATMENTS HAVE FAR FEWER SIDE-EFFECTS COMPARED TO INTERFERON PLUS, AT ONLY 12 WEEKS FOR YOU, THIS WILL BE A SHORT TREATMENT.

ONCE | HAVE THOSE RESULTS, AND THE PAPERWORK FROM DR YAN, WE'LL CALL TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR PRESCRIPTION IS READY.

ALSO, SINCE YOU HAVE SO MUCH ANXIETY ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES FINDING OUT ABOUT YOUR HEP C, |'LL GIVE YOU SOME INFO ABOUT THE HEPATITIS NSW COUNSELLING SERVICE "LET'S TALK".

OK... THANK YOU, DOCTOR. YES, |'D LIKE TO TRY IT.

GREAT. |'LL FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK FOR DR YAN THE LIVER SPECIALIST, ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALL CONFIDENTIAL TOO.

OH, | DON'T NEED COUNSELLING. WELL, TAKE THEIR NUMBER ANYWAY. IT'S A FREE SERVICE AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HELP IF ANYTHING COMES UP FOR YOU.

A WEEK LATER... <OK, FINALLY.*>

<...CAN'T SLEEP CAN'T SLEEP CAN'T SLEEP CAN'T SLEEP...>

CLARA DAY 1 WEEK 1 SCRIPT 1

<UGH. |'M GOING TO RATTLE FROM ALL THESE PILLS.>

* <TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN.>

<OH, HI. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT UP, "MUM".>

DAY 10 WEEK 2 SCRIPT 1

<HA. AS KEEN AS | AM TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR DATE, IT'S JUST MY INSOMNIA AGAIN.>

DAY 5 WEEK 1 SCRIPT 1

<HMM. YOU COULD BE RIGHT... | GUESS IT MIGHT DO ME SOME GOOD TO TALK TO A COUNSELLOR.>

AND SO... HEPATITIS NSW, 414 ELIZABETH ST, SURRY HILLS

IT'S ABSOLUTELY YOUR RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO YOU TELL ABOUT YOUR HEP C. BUT WE ALSO NEED PEOPLE WE CAN TALK TO ABOUT THESE THINGS — A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLOR LIKE MYSELF, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT HOW ABOUT YOUR FAMILY?

…SO YEAH… | TRY TO HIDE MY HEP C FROM MY FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS. AND PEOPLE AT THE CLUB… AND MY HUSBAND’S FRIENDS TOO. |'M AFRAID OF WHAT THEY'LL THINK OF ME...

DAY 17 WEEK 3 SCRIPT 1

THAT'S WONDERFUL. SHARING WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH CAN HELP YOU A LOT. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT YOURSELF? WITHIN YOURSELF?

HARD TO SAY... |'VE HAD IT FOR SO LONG... | JUST DON'T KNOW. IT'S NOT SOMETHING | THINK ABOUT MUCH.

MY HUSBAND ISN'T GOOD WITH THAT SORT OF THING. WE LOVE EACH OTHER... HE'S SO GREAT IN OTHER | DO HAVE MY WAYS BUT HE'S JUST NOT OK WITH TALKING SISTER ELEANORA, THOUGH... SHE'S ABOUT IT. GREAT, REALLY SUPPORTIVE.

DO YOU FEEL HEP C HAS BECOME PART OF HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF? OH YES. IT'S BEEN WITH ME SO LONG THAT IT'S... PART OF ME.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE TRUE. OK, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME STRATEGIES YOU CAN USE TO MANAGE YOUR FEAR OF CHANGE...

THAT'S NORMAL. MAYBE YOU'RE EXPERIENCING ANXIETY TRIGGERED BY CHANGE THAT A CURE WOULD BRING...

A FEW WEEKS LATER. WOW, MY VERY LAST PILL...!

| KNOW | STILL NEED FINAL BLOOD TESTS TO CONFIRM IT* BUT | NEVER THOUGHT THE DAY WOULD COME THAT | MIGHT BE CURED OF HEP C.

BUT HERE IT IS! |'M SURE OF IT! WONDER WHAT |'M GOING TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE... | KNOW OLI MENTIONED DATING AGAIN...

ck kknno ock SAM DAY 168 WEEK 24 SCRIPT 6

*SAM WILL NEED A TEST IN 12 WEEKS TO CONFIRM IF HE IS CURED.

HEY, NEIGHBOUR! CAN | BORROW A CUP OF SUGAR... OR FLOUR... OR WHATEVER?

EL? HI!

FOUR NIGHTS LATER. CLARA DAY 84 WEEK 12 SCRIPT 2

<|'M SO PROUD OF YOU, SIS! YOU'RE SLEEPING BETTER AND LOOKING SO MUCH HEALTHIER... PEOPLE MIGHT START THINKING YOU'RE THE YOUNGER SISTER.> <HA! I WISH! BUT NOW |'VE GOT MY ENERGY AND LIFE BACK | MUST HELP YOU FIND A GOOD GUY TO DATE.>

k knnoocck k

<THAT'S SO COOL OF YOU TO OFFER, SIS... BUT | THINK |'M GOOD. FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION SAM THOUGH...>

CIAO, BELLO! WERE YOUR EARS BURNING? UM, MAYBE? HEY... YOU LOOK GREAT, EL!

JUST THE BEGINNING...

T N E M T A E HEP C TR Q&A Why should I start treatment? n Treatment for hep C has really improved. Cure rates are now around 95-97% for most people. n Treatment is the only proven way of clearing hep C. n Treatment can improve your liver health by helping to reduce liver swelling. It can also help reverse fibrosis and cirrhosis. n Treatment that clears your hep C should mean that you no longer experience hep C symptoms. n Treatment is now provided by doctors (in most cases). n Knowing that you are no longer living with hep C may also help you feel better about yourself, and no longer be stressed about maybe passing on the virus to someone else.

Where can I be treated?

Find your nearest hep C doctor or Liver Clinic on the Hepatitis NSW web directory: hep.org.au/services-directory If you are genotype 1, 2, 3 or 4 and don’t have signs of serious liver damage (that’s most people), your doctor will be able to manage your hep C treatment. If have hep C genotype 6, or signs of serious liver damage, such as cirrhosis, you need treatment at a Liver Clinic or with a specialist.

Treatment side effects

Most people who take the new treatments will have no side effects or only mild side effects. The new treatments may not work well with some other medicines you might take but your doctor or specialist will find ways to deal with this.

Filling scripts

There are different options for getting your prescription (script) filled and getting your supply of the treatments. Some scripts are filled by hospital pharmacy but most are filled by regular chemist shops - but not all chemists will. The ones that do will usually order in your medicine and have it ready in a few days. For your closest hep C treatment dispensing chemist call the Hepatitis Infoline 1800 803 990 or visit the Hepatitis NSW web directory: hep.org.au/services-directory If you don’t have any nearby chemists who will fill your script, there are online pharmacies who can help. Phone the Hepatitis Infoline for help 1800 803 990

Treatment costs

and severity of their hep C disease.

The medicines are free. But when you take your prescription to a pharmacy you will be charged a “co-payment” fee for each medicine. This is around $40 for general patients and around $7 if you have a Health Care Card.

Treatment monitoring & follow up

If you don’t have cirrhosis or other complicating factors, you’ll probably only need to see the doctor once (at week 4) for a blood test measuring liver enzymes, kidney function and full blood count. If ribavirin is required in the treatment, then you will probably have blood tests every month of treatment. Some hospital clinics may use different monitoring protocols based on whether or not people have other illnesses and the complexity

HEPATITIS INFO, SUPPORT, REFERRAL

All people will require a PCR viral detection test 12 weeks after treatment finishes to check if they are cured.

What is a cure?

To be cured, you have to clear the hep C virus from your blood. To see whether you have cleared the virus, a PCR test is done 12 weeks after your treatment is over (24 weeks for genotypes 4 and 6). A “negative” test result means no virus was found and you are cured of hep C. If hep C has already caused liver damage (like cirrhosis) being cured might not mean that you are healthy straight away. If you have cirrhosis, you will still need to see a doctor or specialist for ongoing care. If you have cirrhosis you still have a risk of liver complications, even after being cured of hep C.

Doctors & the new treatments It is important that you visit a doctor and talk about the new treatments – especially if you haven’t seen a doctor recently for your hep C or if you previously tried interferon-based treatment but it didn’t work.

HAVE A QUESTION? CALL

HEPATITIS INFOLINE

1800 803 990 INFO, SUPPORT, REFERRALS

To organise an interpreter service: Call 131 450 Chat to us live: hep.org.au

CROSSWORD TARGET R T E E M T T N A

How many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters here? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the centre letter, and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No foreign words, no words with initial capitals and no hyphenated words.

ACROSS 1. A ghost might say this! (3) 3. Wise bird that asks "who?" (3) 5. Make a boat move over water... (3) 6. A bone in your chest (3) 8. Did the chicken come before this? (3) 10. Secret agent; snoop (3) 12. A Nightmare on ... Street!! (3) 14. You use it to chop wood (3) 15. An asian cooking pan (3) 16. Way, way, way down there (3)

DOWN 1. Prohibit, ban... also a hard rod or pole! (3) 2. Sphere or globe or round thing (3) 3. Need to pay or repay money (3) 4. Something to stand on (3) 7. Lil' devil! (3) 9. Goo for styling your hair! (3) 10. Female pig... or a needle & thread chore! (3) 11. Long-haired cow thing found in Himalaya (3) 12. A long snakelike fish, sometimes electrical! (3) 13. Do this when the grass is too long (3) Solution next page

What's your score?

5 Meh. But at least you tried! 13 Pretty good, eh? 22 Awesome 44 Holy crap! Mega genius! 62 You are clearly a human dictionary and/or computer...we didn't even know half of those crazy words! Answers next page

HOROSCOPES

with Madam Grace, AstroChick

Aries (March 21 - April 19)

Should you get out of bed today? Yes! And you should see your GP about hep C treatments too!

Libra (September 23 - October 22) Still weighing up your options on hep C treatment, Libra? Your GP will balance you out.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

Scorpio (October 23 - Nov 21)

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

Sagittarius (November 22 - Dec 21)

Don't be bull headed, Taurus. Take charge! Talk to your doc about hep C treatment! You might be in two minds about starting hep C treatment... but it's time to chose "yes"!

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Hiding in your shell about having your hep C treated, Crab? See your GP, they won't bite.

Like all true archers, Sagittarius, you will hit the bullseye when you start hep C treatment.

Capricorn (December 22 - Jan 19)

A tall, dark stranger - or, more likely, your GP will tell you about hep C treatments. Destiny!

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

Aquarius (January 20 - Feb 18)

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)

If you've lost your roar, Leo, it might be your hep C dragging you down. Time for treatment!

With the sun in Uranus it's your chance to shine. There's no better time to start hep C treatment!

The stars have aligned for you and they're spelling out "START HEP C TREATMENT". Hey, Pisces! The new hep C treatments aren't as fishy as you think they are.

B O O O W L A R O W E R I B E G G M E S P Y E L M O A X E O W O K L O W CROSSWORD SOLUTION

TARGET SOLUTION (red=more common) ameer, amen, amene, ament, armet, enarm, enema, entame, mane, manet, mare, mart, marten, mate, mater, matt, matte, matter, mean, meane, meaner, meant, meare, meat, meer, meet, mene, ment, menta, mere, meta, metate, mete, meter, metre, name, namer, neem, nema, ramee, ramen, ramet, ream, reame, reman, remanet, remate, remen, remet, rename, reteam, retem, tame, tamer, team, teamer, teem, teme, term, tram, TREATMENT, trema

Believe it or not hep C treatments no longer have the sting in the tail they once did!

HEPATITIS NSW DIRECTORY

Search for doctors near your local postcode who will write prescriptions for new hepatitis C treatments & for local chemists who will fill scripts. Over 100 doctors and 300+ chemists listed state-wide!

hep.org.au/services-directory Have you seen our mobile-friendly Hepatitis NSW website?

Check it out at hep.org.au It's full of information about hep C & hep B. Find out how to look after yourself and protect yourself and others. You can have Tx! Mag delivered to you. Become a Hepatitis NSW member for free:

call 1800 803 990

LOOKING FOR MORE TO READ? ALL PAST ISSUES ARE ONLINE AT: hep.org.au/news-stand

TRANSMISSION #18

TRANSMISSION #19

TRANSMISSION #20

TRANSMISSION #21

TRANSMISSION #23

TX! MAG #24

A New Look For Tina Tina is a dancer who has breast implant surgery overseas and contracts hep C in the process.

The Way We Are Vic & Andy are looking to build a family together but it’s complicated by the difficulty Andy is having getting a job after being released from prison… and the fact he picked up hep C while inside.

Game On Mitch & Bob are in JJ. Bob has hep C and Mitch worries he may have gotten it through a bloody fist fight on the footy field.

Need-To-Know Frank has been sent to prison for a three year stretch – while he’s inside he struggles with indecision about whether to get himself tested for hep C or not.

Guys Like Us Daz, who is HIV+, accidently uses injecting equipment that had been used by someone else, did he get hep C? Only a test will tell.

Change Of Plans Lola is in prison for only a few weeks when she gets a tattoo with a pre-used and unsterile needle... not much later she finds out she now has hep C too.

TX! survey ENTER THE DRAW TO WIN A $100 VOUCHER...!

IT'S EASY!

go to surveymonkey.com/r/TXmag AND FILL OUT THE SURVEY ONLINE

OR 1 FILL OUT THE SURVEY ON THE BACK OF THIS PAGE 2 CUT THIS PAGE OUT OF THE MAGAZINE 3 FOLD IN HALF ALONG THE BLACK DOTTED LINE BELOW, SO THAT THE ADDRESS IS ON THE OUTSIDE 4 STICK THE 2 SIDES CLOSED WITH STICKY TAPE OR STAPLES (ALONG THE YELLOW EDGES ABOVE AND BELOW) 5 PUT IT IN THE POST TO US (NO NEED TO BUY A STAMP, IT'S FREE TO SEND)

TX! survey

UT FILL THISYOOU AND A COULD WUIN ER H C O V $100

IT'S EASY!

QUESTIONS ABOUT TX! MAG 1. After reading this Tx! Mag, I feel I know more about hep C...

2. After reading this Tx! Mag, I know more about hep C treatment...

3. I think this Tx! Mag is useful to me...

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither

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Strongly agree

Agree

Neither

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4. How could we make Tx! Mag better?

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU 5. How old are you? 6. Are you:

male

10. Please describe yourself: (tick as many as you like) female

trans/inter

7. What is your current postcode (or prison name)? 8. Do you speak a language other than English with your family?

No, only English Yes, the other language I speak is:

Person with hep C Person cured of hep C Partner/relative/friend of person with hep C Person with hep B Current prisoner Ex-prisoner GP or Health Care Worker Community or youth worker Person who currently injects drugs

9. Are you Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander? Yes

Person who used to inject drugs Worker in NSP sector Worker in AOD or OST sectors Other (please say)

To enter the draw for the $100 voucher, please give us your name and phone number, email address or prison MIN (optional). This prize offer is for NSW residents only - one draw per person. Name: Phone: Email:

MIN :

Hepatitis NSW respects your right to privacy. We have a policy and set of procedures on how we collect, use, disclose and hold your personal info. For a copy of the policy, please contact us on 02 9332 1853 or visit hep.org.au

LARRY'S LIVER!

HEY, LARRY'S LIVER! WHAT'S UP, DUDE... YOU'RE LOOKING REAL CRAPPY.

...co-starring...

LARRY'S GALLBLADDER

AW, JEEZE, LARRY'S GALLBLADDER...I'M NOT FEELING AWESOME, THAT'S FOR SURE.

LIKE, WHAT'S UP WITH THOSE LUMPY THINGS? THEY'RE NEW... LOOK NASTY.

YOU KNOW LARRY... HE DOESN'T LIKE TO THINK ABOUT HIS HEP C SINCE HE TRIED INTERFERON.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE LARRY'S HEP C... HE'S HAD IT AGES NOW AND IT'S MAKING ME CROOK.

BUT THESE NEW TREATMENTS ARE MEANT TO BE EASY TO TAKE & THEY WORK!

MAYBE WE CAN ASK LARRY'S BUTT-HOLE TO GO ON STRIKE OR SOMETHING.

I TRIED TELLING LARRY'S BRAIN THAT... BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO ME. SIGH.

NOT A BAD IDEA, LARRY'S GALLBLADDER... AT LEAST THAT'LL MAKE LARRY GO TO HIS DOCTOR... SAY NO MORE!