for Veterans and the Public

If you have finished your treatment, and it did not clear the hepatitis C virus from your blood, you may want to take a break for a while, continue watchful waiting, and potentially be retreated when new drugs become available.

Your decision will depend on several things, such as the results of your liver function tests and biopsy. Some people with less severe liver damage decide to wait until better treatments become available. Other people decide to try new drugs right away.

Keep in mind that, even if the treatment didn't get rid of the virus, it likely has improved the overall health of your liver.

Here are some things to consider after you've finished treatment, and the virus wasn't cleared from your blood:

• Talk with your doctor about other treatments.
• Ask for liver function tests every 6 months or every year.
• Think about having a liver biopsy every few years to check your liver's health.
• Ask about new clinical trials for hepatitis C treatments.
• Talk with your doctor about tests for liver cancer if you have scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
• Try to keep yourself healthy by:
  • eating well
  • not drinking alcohol or using drugs
  • getting plenty of rest
  • staying active and exercising
• Keep your appointments with your doctor and get regular check-ups.