Those who are educated about Hepatitis C know that time is of the essence when it comes to receiving treatment. Unfortunately, some Australians with this virus have to wait a reported six years to see a specialist.

Six year wait list for Hep C treatment

Tuesday, 23 February 2010

Peter Dowling MP, LNP Member for Redlands is calling on the State Government to reveal information about waiting times for specialist outpatient services and act to reduce a 6 year wait for patients needing Hepatitis C treatment in Queensland hospitals.

Mr Dowling wants Health Minister Paul Lucas to come clean on excessive waiting times for Hepatitis C treatments and disclose the number of Category 1, 2 and 3 patients waiting for treatment in Queensland hospitals.

"There is a resident in my electorate who has been told that he can expect to wait up to 6 years before he can see a doctor for treatment", Mr Dowling said.

"Unbelievable as it seems, he's been on a waiting list to see a specialist at the Princess Alexandra hospital since 2006."

“What’s more unbelievable is that he’s now been told it’ll be at least two or three years more before he’ll get an appointment.”

“He’s already waited more than 3 years and the longer he waits, the more likely it is that his condition will result in cirrhosis or cancer – both of which will kill him.”

“Would the Minister be prepared to wait six years if he needed treatment for a life-threatening illness?”

People with hepatitis C are invited to take part in a health self management course run by Hepatitis C Victoria.

The course aims to provide health education training to people with hepatitis C which will help them develop strategies that will manage their condition.

The Hep C: Take Control Project aims to provide a supportive group environment to assist people with hepatitis C to understand what they can do to improve their symptoms. Participants in the project are invited to attend a six-week self-management course designed to help people with hepatitis C to manage their condition better.

Over 6 weeks we will meet for 2 hours per week to explore what you can do in your own life to better manage your health and wellbeing, including;

Week 1: Introduction to the virus and its effects
Week 2: Living with hep C – Diet and Exercise
Week 3: Living with hep C – Sleep, Fatigue, Alcohol and Other Drugs
Week 4: Living with Hep C – Thoughts and Emotions
Week 5: Disclosure, Stigma and Support
Week 6: Treatment and The Future

U-M study indicates investigation needed to find accurate ways to complement ultrasounds

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Widely used biomarkers are not optimal in early detection of liver cancer, the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, according to a new study published in this month's Gastroenterology.

Two biomarkers used to complement ultrasound in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver cancer, are not ideal, according to Anna S. Lok, M.D., professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and lead author of the study published in the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

The study analyzed the use of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) and the most widely used biomarker, alpha fetoprotein (AFP). Biomarkers are found in patient's blood and are used to indicate whether a disease or condition is present.

Liver cancer is the sixth most common malignancy, with 22,620 Americans expected to be diagnosed this year. The incidence of HCC in the United States is increasing and is largely attributed to hepatitis C.

Last updated: 28 April 2009