Millions of people in the United States suffer from hepatitis C, but
most of them don't even know they have it. Dr. Michael Charlton from Intermountain Medical Center talks more about the disease.
An
estimated 3-4 million persons in the United States are chronically
infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is estimated that up to
85% are unaware that they are infected.
Liver disease related to
HCV is the leading indication for liver transplantation, the most
common cause of death among persons with HIV infection and is the most
common basis for hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) in the
United States. Hepatocellular carcinoma related to infection with HCV
has become the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related death in the
United States, and during the past two decades, the incidence of
hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States has tripled while the
5-year survival rate has remained below 12%.
Read more... Labels: Liver cancer HCC, US epidemiology