The Caring Ambassadors Program uses a unique approach in our work to address the elimination of viral hepatitis and specifically hepatitis C.
Our three main methods to combat hepatitis C are to Empower patients and providers to increase their knowledge of hepatitis C to improve access a cure; to Educate systems and communities on how to integrate viral hepatitis services into existing programming; and to Advocate on behalf of patients and communities to create sound policy, funding and messaging. We are honored to serve the community to help eliminate the largest infectious disease outbreak of our time; we promise to be BOLD in our approach to creating paths to health and making hepatitis C history.
The time is now. 71 million people worldwide are living with chronic Hepatitis C right now. It is the largest chronic infectious disease outbreak of our time…and it’s curable. Talk to your doctor about treatment for your Hepatitis C, and don’t take no for an answer.
MY CHOICES© is a tool to help you recognize and act upon what you can control in your health care journey to achieve optimal healing, regardless of the illness you face. It contains elements of a guide book, health planner, journal, and activity book to help orient you to and plan for the journey ahead.
Weekly News Update.
Caring Ambassadors Program provides 3 weekly news updates covering Lung Cancer News, Hepatitis C News, and My Choices© Update. Receive them delivered weekly to your inbox.
Weekly News Update
Hepatitis C News
Week Ending June 27, 2022
Towards the elimination of hepatitis C as a public health concern
“NSW Health has today released a comprehensive plan to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2028 with the NSW Hepatitis C Strategy 2022 – 2025. Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the new strategy is centred on prevention, testing, treatment and addressing stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.”
Two Highly Effective Direct-Acting Antiviral Regimens Identified for Hepatitis C Genotype 6
“Two direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens — sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) and gelcaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) — had favorable outcomes and were safe for the treatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 6 (HCV-6) infection. These findings were published in the Journal of the Formosan Medical Association.”
What is the epidemiology for hepatitis C?
“The World Health Organization notes that 1.5 million new HCV infections occur each year. Less than half of those with an HCV infection clear the virus from their system within 6 months and without any treatment. Approximately 70% of people cannot rid their bodies of the virus and develop a chronic infection.”
Progress seen in proportion of pregnant persons with hep C screening
“There has been substantial progress in the proportion of pregnant persons screened for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but the testing rates are still low, according to an article published online June 9 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.”
WHO publishes updated guidance on hepatitis C infection – with new recommendations on treatment of adolescents and children, simplified service delivery and diagnostics
“Updated WHO Guidance on hepatitis C (HCV) infection was released today during a joint WHO-EASL-CDC symposium at the EASL International Liver Congress 2022 in London. These guidelines recommend a radical simplification of the care pathway to overcome barriers in access to HCV testing and treatment.”
Chronic Hepatitis B Infections Decreasing in Recent Years
“New data shows a drop in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections and deaths among the youngest populations.”
Mood and Cognition Improve After Hepatitis C Cure
“People who were successfully treated for hepatitis C with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy experienced improvements in their mood and cognition, according to study results published in the Journal of Viral Hepatitis. Over time, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to severe liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. It has also been linked to neuropsychiatric problems. For example, people with cirrhosis may develop hepatic encephalopathy, wherein toxins in the blood result in impaired brain function.”
Mystery Hepatitis Disease Has Now Killed 11 Children in U.S.
“Child hepatitis cases in the United States have caused 11 deaths and dozens of hospitalizations as part of an outbreak with no known cause, new data shows. Analysis published last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that there were a total of 296 cases of hepatitis with an unknown cause among U.S. children aged under 10 between October 1, 2021 and June 15 this year.”
My Choices© Update
Week Ending June 27, 2022
A Heart Healthy Diet: Food Lists, Diet Tips, and More
“Your heart is a complex organ that works continuously to provide your body with a constant supply of oxygenated blood. It’s part of the cardiovascular system, which also includes arteries, veins, and capillaries.”
Plant power: Using diet to lower cancer risk
“The choices you make at the grocery store have a bigger impact than just your dinner plans. Filling your plate with foods that are grown in the ground may be the best diet for cancer prevention.”
Too Many of Our Plates Are Missing Immune-Boosting Microbes
“What we eat affects the trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other germs that live in our digestive tract, referred to as our gut microbiome by scientists. Some of the many roles of theses microbes inside our bodies include changing how the immune system functions and influencing physical and mental health.”
What’s the Best Time of Day to Exercise? It Depends on Your Goals
“For most of us, the “best” time of day to work out is simple: When we can. Maybe that’s before or after work. Or when the gym offers free daycare. Or when our favorite instructor teaches our favorite class. That’s why we call it a “routine.” And if the results are the same, it’s hard to imagine changing it up.”
Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine: Supportive Treatments for Cancer Patients & Families
“Integrative medicine, a blend of complementary and lifestyle medicine, is often added to a comprehensive treatment plan alongside modern medical methods of diagnosis and treatment, said Eric Secor Jr., ND, PhD, LAc, associate medical director of integrative medicine at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute.”
Doctors increasingly prescribe time in nature to promote mental and physical health
“Combining greek prefix -bíos (“life”) with suffix -philía (“friendship and affinity”), German physiologist Erich Fromm first coined the term biophilia in 1973: “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”
Why Creating Micro-Routines Is Key To Reaching Your Maximum Wellness Potential
“When Haute Beauty expert Dr. Deepa Verma counsels her patients on overall wellness, she always emphasizes the four pillars of a healthy lifestyle: clean diet, restorative sleep, exercise, and stress reduction. To benefit our overall health and wellness, we must take these four pillars and make them habits. To do so, discipline, which is something that we do not have to think about doing because it has become engrained in the fiber of our being, is needed. Here Dr. Verma shares how she makes wellness optimization attainable both for herself and for her patients.”
How to Use New FDA Guide for Dietary Supplements
“More than half of Americans use dietary supplements, according to national surveys, fueling a billion-dollar industry. Yet studies show that many people don’t know enough about supplements’ active ingredients, recommended dosages, possible side effects and drug interactions.”
Practical Types Of Self-Care You Can Do Today
“Self-care is a buzzword that may conjure images of cucumber slice-covered eyes or a long soak in a candle-lit bath, but the meaning is much deeper than that. Nurturing yourself involves paying attention to your body as well as your emotional and mental well-being. And while it goes beyond pampering yourself, it doesn’t always mean a trip to your therapist is in order, either.”
The New Age of Naturopathy – How Integrative Medicine Works There
“A branch of complementary medicine known as naturopathy draws its therapeutic cues from nature and the cosmos. Within our bodies, there is an inherent harmony but also intrinsic chaos. Naturism stresses the need to return the body to a state of homeostasis to recover from any ailment. Unprecedented treatment that doesn’t need any medication! To fully appreciate the benefits of naturopathy, it’s essential that we first define what it is.”
3 Surprising Things That Affect Your Gut Health, From The Father Of Functional Medicine
“Your gut influences everything from your digestion to your mood to your immunity—it’s the foundation of your health, many would say. But because your gut touches so many functions in your body, it can be difficult to know what exactly triggers any gut issues you may have. Is it inflammation? FODMAPs? A lack of sleep? Yes, your diet can play a huge role, but other less obvious factors can wreak havoc on your gut without you even knowing it.”
What is reiki and does it work?
“The term reiki has been bandied around in wellness circles for years, but you’d be forgiven for tentatively uttering the question – what is reiki? A practice that’s been steadily growing in popularity, reiki is a safe and non-invasive form of energy-based healing that can promote relaxation and reduce stress through gentle touch.”
3 Ways To Address Mental Fatigue & How To Identify It, From A Health Coach
“Mental fatigue. Burnout. Exhaustion. Different phrases all describing the end result of pushing your body and mind too far. It’s a pervasive idea in today’s society that if you’re not hustling then you’re lazy, but it’s this exact mindset that can put your health at risk—particularly if you’re ignoring the signs your body is trying to send you.”
Energy therapy: What to know
“Energy therapies are healing techniques that treat the mind, body, and spirit. Doctors sometimes refer to them as alternative or complementary therapies. There is a growing interest in using energy therapies for a variety of health conditions.”
Use the arrows on the sides to scroll through content!
Hepatitis Awareness Month
hep·a·ti·tis
noun
a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver.
Hepatitis C kills more Americans than HIV. Hepatitis C is a fully curable and preventation virus that causes liver inflammation that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated. 2.4 million Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus. About 1 million of those Americans have no idea. About 45% of those infected with the virus have no idea they are slowly dying.
Newsweek, April 22, 2002
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not a new problem. The virus was identified in 1989, and the first interferon treatment was released in 1991, and direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) targeting HCV began in 2011. DAAs allow people to be cured of HCV with less side effects and less time that the first treatments. There is a cure. No one else needs to die.
Congress has refused to fund the elimination of the hepatitis C virus for deacdes. Congress has allocated only 10% of the needed money to eliminate hepatitis and save millions of Americans. Hepatitis will not wait, why is Congress?
Call Congress today and tell them to fund hepatitis elimination after years of inaction. 202-224-3121
Get Tested. Get Cured.
National Nutrition Month
We have all heard it before,
“You are what you eat.”
Nourishing your body through any journey is essential. According to the CDC, fewer than 1 in 10 American adults and adolescents eat enough fruit and vegetables. An unhealthy diet can lead to increased chances of some cancers and type 2 diabetes.
Many illnesses can affect the way the body is able to process nutrients. Even some treatments have side effects that influence the bodies ability to use the fuel foods provide. Fueling your body correctly can actually help treatments be more effective.
Knowing the current dietary guidelines can help you make healthier decisions on your journey.
It’s not only about how much you eat, but what you eat plays a significant role in your wellness. There are many ways that you can approach improving your diet. You can learn more about nutrition and how to make changes in the Nutrition section of in MY CHOICES: A Planner of Healing.
“No disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means.”
— Maimonides
Learning new habits is never an easy feat. Michael Pollan, a respected journalist, writer and professor offers a simple and effective recommendation,
“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”
Sounds easy enough, right? We put together a list of his 7 rules for eating well to help you create your new eating habits. Great for hanging on the fridge for a daily reminder.
Cancer Prevention Month
DID YOU KNOW?!
-
- The liver is a complex organ that is involved in over 500 body functions!
- A human body cannot survive more than 24 hours without a liver.
- The liver helps detoxify blood, creating vital substances like proteins, and processing nearly every class of nutrient.
Your liver and cancer
Hepatitis C is the most common blood born viral infection in the US. An estimated 325 million people have viral hepatitis, globally. In left untreated, hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.
There is a cure for hepatitis C, and it is detected by a simple blood test. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with hepatitis C?
Conversations with health care professionals can be intimidating. Keeping track of what you need to ask and the answers to your questions can be overwhelming. Hep C Discussion Point was created to aid in this part of the process. This completely free and confidential tool is built for starting and continuing conversations about treating hepatitis C.
For additional information about promoting overall health, check out MY CHOICES: A Planner for Healing©
Get Tested. Get Cured
Hepatitis C, or hepatitis C virus (HCV) should not be a mystery. Hepatitis C is the most common, chronic blood-borne viral infection in the United States. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver acts as a filter for blood, processes nutrients and fights infections. It is an important organ to help your body maintain wellness. You can learn more about hepatitis C symptoms here.
To see if there has been been exposed to HCV, there is a simple blood test. There are many ways that one could have been exposed to HCV. Learn about hepatitis C transmission here.
Unlike many chronic viruses, hepatitis C is curable with antiviral treatment.
Challenge yourself in 2022 to know your HCV status.
Get Tested. Get Cured.
Talk to your doctor about hepatitis C. We understand that starting that conversation can be hard.
Click here to visit Hep C Discussion Point, a tool designed to help you choose topics to discuss with your health care team.
Join the World Hepatitis Day Movement!
We can’t wait for the pandemic to end to get hepatitis elimination back on track!
CDC Releases 2019 Hepatitis Numbers – We are on the wrong road to elimination!
Today, CDC published online the 2019 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. This report now includes demographic characteristics of persons with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, urbanicity, and US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regions.
