Dr. Rob Biernbaum, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacob Scutaru, Infectious Disease Physician, and Katie Peters, Hepatitis C Program Supervisor spoke on Rochester Perspective Radio about May being Hepatitis Awareness Month.
What is Hep C?
Hep C is a viral, chronic infection of the liver. It can cause liver damage, liver cancer, or be fatal if it’s left untreated.
Who is at risk for Hep C?
While it’s important to know that everybody is at risk for contracting Hep C, those with the highest risk are Baby Boomers, people who use drugs, and people who have unprotected sex.
Knowing your status is critically important because people can live with Hep C for years and have no idea. It isn’t a problem until it becomes a problem.
How do I get tested?
You can make an appointment at Trillium Health for free Hep C testing. We will do a finger stick, which looks to see if you have any antibodies, and a blood draw which lets us know if you have the virus in your system.
What does Hep C treatment look like?
Hep C treatment is significantly different than it was when it first came out years ago. Now you will take one or three pills once a day for 2-3 months with minimal side effects. If you take your medication as prescribed, it has a 95-99.9% efficacy, which means you’re cured for life.
How much does treatment cost?
At Trillium Health, we remove all barriers to testing and treatment for Hep C. We will work with you and your insurance company to make sure you pay little to nothing for this life saving treatment plan.
Be an advocate for yourself and for your health. Call us at 585.454.4372 to schedule an appointment for free Hep C testing.