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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 8:22 a.m., Monday, November 26, 2007

Hawaii patients offered hepatitis C information class

Advertiser Staff

A special class will be held tomorrow for patients who are on or going to be on treatment for hepatitis C with Pegasys.

The class is being presented by Jennifer Lee, who is one of the most knowledgeable medical practitioners to have treated Hep C side-effects in Hawai'i.

This is a free class for those considering or who are on treatment for hepatitis C.

Ken Akinaka of the Hepatitis Support Network of Hawaii said the group has screened more than 600 people for hepatitis this year and 10 percent tested positive.

"Don't wait until you feel ill to be treated," Akinaka said in released statement. "Many people will not feel ill until they develop end-stage liver disease. It is more difficult to be successfully treated if you wait until you have cirrhosis before you seek treatment. Most people who have been infected with hepatitis C that already have end-stage liver disease are between 40 and 59 years old. Many people with HCV who have died from liver disease were only 40 to 54 years old."

Tomorrow's classes will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Room 11 (Komuro Room) of the Harris United Methodist Church, at 20 S. Vineyard Blvd.

The class will include:

  • Basics of Hepatitis C

  • Overview of Therapy

  • Side Effect Information

  • Pregnancy/Contraception Guidelines

  • Storage of Medication

  • Self-Injection Instructions

    Pre-registration required; call Jennifer at 393-2478 or e-mail her at jenniferlee-np@hotmail.com