In December 0f 2003, I was informed by my Oncologist that he had tested my blood for HVC and the results were positive for genotype 1a. He had been testing my blood for close to 2 years after treating me for a rather aggressive form of cancer in the lower regions of my body; successfuly, I might add.

I have had elevated enzyme levels in my tests for years, and during my Chemo and Radiation treatments my levels were at times off the charts.

I am sure that after over a year and a half from the end of my treatments, he was beginning to get concerned that these elevated levls continued to be high.

When discussing my results on that December day, he asked me the question of possible blood transfusions I might have had in my past. I immediately harkened back to January 1977, when I had the Harrington Rod surgery performed on my spine for a severe form of Scoliosis , during which I had received over 13 pints of blood. My family had donated, with me, several pints preceeding this event, but complications arose during the procedure that extended a normal 1.5 hour surgery into a 4.5 hour surgery.

Knowing now that screening in 1977 was not what it should have been, it was surmized that this was probably the time at which I had been infected with contaminated blood. That puts my time with this virus at over 27 years.

Today I live a very normal existence, other than taking my Max Milk Thistle and LIV.52 four times a day and minimizing any alcohol intake to levels that put me practically in the teatotaler category.I had my liver biopsy last year and it showed minor scarring of the liver; I was stage 2 and level 2. I have been told to wait until I am 2years past my cancer and will be at UMSylvester in June of this year to discuss what new drugs are available to treat this virus. I have never been on Interferon or Ribavirin because my Specialist at UM felt that I was in good condition and did not feel I should be subjected to the effects of this form of treatment.

I look forward to whatever the future holds for me in terms of New Drugs that are currently being researched and the support I get from my Family and friends in dealing with this very real threat to my health.I currently experience no physical ailments as a result of having HVC and count my blessings for this. My wife of 15 years has been tested and came up negative. My insurance has been wonderful up to this point, but my Cobra will run out in March and I have been told by BCBS that they will continue my coverage but of course my rates will significantly change. I will deal with this just like I have dealt with everything else that has occurred in the past 2-3 years to me and my Family; with hope and courage, because the alternative is not an option.