Hi beahaven,

I was F3 from memory in 2012 when my G.P. found high AFP levels and a subsequent ultrasound a HCC.

Post liver re-section I was getting CT and ultra sounds every 6 months – now just ultrasounds. I think I progressed to F4 in the years following until treated successfully with DAAs.

I don’t have to pay, but would if I had to. Just like servicing a car and probably cheaper too.

I understand that paying and getting the ultrasound done is inconvenient, but so was the HCC for me.

Hope this helps

Jeff

Hello beahaven – from your F0-F1 starting point your HCC risk is pretty much the same as the general population (ie very small).

Normal, F0 and F1 are all close together. F3 and F4 are close together. F2 is a middle ground. You are at the lowest possible end for fibrosis and the lowest possible risk for HCC. While there is a push to extend surveillance to F3 patients there is not a push to extend it to F2 or F1 or F0.

Your doctor would seem to be being over cautious. Monitoring your AFP is almost certainly sufficient (if you are of a paranoid disposition), particularly if funds are tight.

If you were my patient I would not be monitoring you for HCC (with either AFP or U/S) and would have declared you cured.

The occasional patient with F0, F1 and F2 will get an HCC. So to will the occasional patient who does not have Hep C (or Hep or any other liver issue.

Hello beahavan,

Although there is a form of HCC that does not produce AFP the pre test probability of you having an HCC are the less than the general population (without HCV) because of all the monitoring we have done excluding it.