I finished Harvoni treatment in November 2016. My doctor told me that I would be at elevated risk for liver cancer for 10 years. He is going to want to do a liver ultra sound next year.

I get blood work every 6 months. It’s been 3 years since my last liver ultra sound.

Hello GillA,

If you had cirrhosis prior to treatment then you are at increased risk of developing HCC and an Ultrasound every 6 months works well to keep an eye on it.

At SVR your liver gets better not worse, so cirrhotics become less cirrhotic or even fibrotic. All cause mortality is substantially reduced at SVR so there is less liver failure, less HCC and less everything else that falls into the extrahepatic manifestations.

As you can see from this graph you are about 1/3 as likely to die, 1/5 as likely to get HCC and 1/10 as likely to progress to liver failure. All good reasons not to paint a gloomy picture!

If you did not have cirrhosis prior to treatment your specialist is just being extra cautious.

Here is my 1.5 year bloods and cancer screen, all incredible.
My liver and blood tests have never looked better in 30 years. My GI doc wants an ultra sound and I agreed. He states my results will help the next patient but I have ultra low risk in getting any HCC or cirrossis due to the successful DAA treatment completed.
I paint a sunny picture, I won’t and don’t live in health fear.