edition
30
MAR 2019
HEY!
TAKE our survey AND YOU and/or COULD ENTER our comp
WIN $100
A WORD FROM THE EDITOR! Hey Tx!-ians!
Welcome to Tx! Mag #30 - another edition packed full of stories and useful stuff about hep C. In this edition we look at the various myths and misconceptions some people living with hep C might have about treatment and cure. By now, many of us know about how effective the new treatments are at curing hep C, but for some people these myths and beliefs can hold them back from getting rid of the virus. This edition has four great stories showing: n earlier interferon treatment isn’t a barrier to new treatments; n hep C reinfection isn’t a barrier to new treatments; n it’s better to be treated now, rather waiting until you “feel sick”; n new treatments are easy, even if life seems too busy. Also, a huge thank you to the many people who have sent in Tx! Mag surveys over the last year. Besides telling us we're doing a pretty good job with the stories, you've also said that you'd like to see more puzzles and competitions... and we've delivered! In addition to the usual word puzzles there's also a finda-word and sudokus. We still have the $100 survey, but there's also an extra chance to win a gift voucher in a competition by answering four easy questions.
EDITOR/DESIGNER Grace Crowley EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Thomas Wright Ben Cork Tim Baxter Paul Harvey Maria McMahon Sonam Paljor Lucy Pepolim Kate Pinnock Rhea Shortus SPECIAL THANKS Kyle Leadbeatter Paul Jones Grace Woods Jason Bell Naomi Hatchman Kanishka Muthukumar STORY WRITER & ARTIST Grace Crowley CONSULTANTS gestaltcomics.com
Hope you enjoy Tx! MAG #30! Cheers! Grace Tx! Mag Ed Aside from Hepatitis NSW editorial content, views expressed in this magazine or flyers enclosed with it are not necessarily those of Hepatitis NSW or the organisations with whom we collaborate. Neither are such views necessarily those of our funding bodies. Tx! Mag does not promote or condone the use of illicit drugs. Rather, it seeks to provide accurate information that will help people who already use drugs to reduce risks and make safer choices. Nothing in this magazine should be taken as recommending drug use.
Hepatitis NSW is proud to acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional owners and custodians of our lands and waters.
Hepatitis Infoline 1800 803 990 (freecall)
p: 02 9332 1853 e: info@hep.org.au w: hep.org.au fb: facebook.com/HepNSW tw: @HepatitisNSW PO Box 432 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300 ABN 30 408 095 245 A non-profit health promotion charity funded by the NSW Ministry of Health. Accredited by the Quality Improvement Council of Australia (QIC). Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.
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THE LATEST HEP C TREATMENTS TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, NURSE OR CLINIC ABOUT THE NEW HEP C CURES SOFOSBUVIR & VELPATASVIR
=
GLECAPREVIR & PIBRENTASVIR
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SOFOSBUVIR & LEDIPASVIR
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GRAZOPREVIR & ELBASVIR
EPCLUSA
MAVIRET
HARVONI
ZEPATIER
FOR
FOR
FOR GENOTYPES
ALL
ALL
FOR GENOTYPE
GENOTYPES (1 TO 6)
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1& 4
95%
95%
95%
95%
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8
8 OR 12
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GENOTYPES (1 TO 6)
OF PEOPLE CURED
OF PEOPLE CURED
WEEKS LAST UPDATED AUGUST 2018
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WEEKS*
OF PEOPLE CURED
WEEKS*
OF PEOPLE CURED
WEEKS*
WHO ARE THEY FOR? ADULTS WHO HAVE HEP C AND A MEDICARE CARD
*
MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO OR VERY MILD SIDE-EFFECTS FOR A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, TREATMENT MAY LAST LONGER
IMPORTANT: TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE CURED, YOU NEED TO GET A PCR BLOOD TEST AT LEAST 12 WEEKS AFTER YOU FINISH YOUR TREATMENT.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Call our Hepatitis Infoline 1800 803 990 or look up our website hep.org.au FREE CALL FROM PRISON n Enter MIN n Enter PIN n Press 2 for Common Calls list n Press 3 for Hepatitis Infoline
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FREE CALL FROM PRISON n Enter MIN n Enter PIN n Press 2 for Common Calls list 6 n Press 3 for Hepatitis Infoline
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TX! survey
ENTER THE DRAW TO WIN A $100 VOUCHER!*
IT'S EASY!
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TX! survey
FILL THISOU U O T ANDINY ONE COULD WR $100 OF FOU HERS VOUC
1. Reading this Tx! Mag was useful to me... 2. After reading this Tx! Mag, I know more about hepatitis treatment...
3. Reading Tx! Mag made me think about... (tick all that apply)
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IT'S EASY
PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS... Strongly agree
Agree
Neither
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calling the Hepatitis Infoline going to the Hepatitis NSW website talking to someone about support services
4. What is your current postcode (or prison name)?
talking to someone else about hepatitis it hasn't made me think about doing anything other (please let us know)
OPTIONAL QUESTIONS... 5. How could we make Tx! Mag better?
To enter the draw for the $100 voucher, please give us your name and phone number, email address or prison MIN (optional). This prize offer is for NSW residents only - one draw per person. Name: Phone:
6. How old are you? 7. Please describe yourself: (tick as many as you like) person with hep C/cured of hep C person with hep B current prisoner Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander someone who doesn't usually speak English at home other (please let us know)
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Email: MIN :
Congratulations to Karen R., Kirk M., Amber M. and Ian M. who won one of four $100 from Tx! Mag #29. And thank you to the more than 500 people who sent in their feedback over the last four months we greatly appreciate your input. Hepatitis NSW respects your right to privacy. We have a policy and set of procedures on how we collect, use, disclose and hold your personal info. For a copy of the policy, please contact us on 02 9332 1853 or visit hep.org.au
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Call the Hepatitis Infoline CADL #3 for an Info Pack with playing cards, Tx! MAG comics, Fincol facts & other stuff about hep C!
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HEPATITIS INFO, SUPPORT, REFERRAL ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HEP B OR HEP C?
1800 803 990 To organise an interpreter service call 131 450 Chat to us live: hep.org.au FREE CALL FROM PRISON n Enter MIN n Enter PIN n Press 2 for Common Calls list n Press 3 for Hepatitis Infoline
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Check it out at hep.org.au It's full of information about hep C and hep B. Find out how to look after yourself and protect yourself and others. You can have Tx! Mag delivered to you. Become a Hepatitis NSW member for free:
call 1800 803 990
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Tx! COMPETITION ANSWER FOUR EASY QUESTIONS TO HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING A $100 VOUCHER!*
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Tx! COMPETITION ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS... All you have to do to win is answer these four questions correctly, just tick the right box! We'll chose one entry at random and the first one with all answers right will be the winner! 1. If you get hep C again, can you get treated and cured again? [GREAT DEAL] Yes, yes and yes Um... nah? Don't know... I have to read Great Deal. Unicorn 2. Should you wait until you feel sick before doing something about hep C? [TOUGH ENOUGH] Nah, start treatment ASAP Um... yes? Don't know... I have to read Tough Enough. Dragon 3. Can you start hep C treatment even if other stuff in life isn't all sorted out? [A WIN IS A WIN...] Yep, cure is pretty easy now Um... no? Don't know... I have to read A Win is a Win... Leprechaun 4. Are the new hep C treatments better or worse than interferon? [WHAT'S TO LOSE?] Better - 95% cure rate, no side-effects, 8 or 12 weeks (for most people) Um... worse? Don't know... I have to read What's to Lose? Loch Ness Monster
TELL US YOUR DEETS... To enter the competion for the $100 voucher, please give us your name and phone number, email address and postcode (if you're in prison, tell us your prison and MIN). This prize offer is for NSW residents only - one entry per person. Name: Phone: Email: Postcode (or prison name): MIN :
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DEADLINE: May 15, 2019 We'll contact the winner and announce their name in the next issue. Hepatitis NSW respects your right to privacy. We have a policy and set of procedures on how we collect, use, disclose and hold your personal info. For a copy of the policy, please contact us on 02 9332 1853 or visit hep.org.au
FIND-A-WORD! Y S K S S T K E C P D E W I N
A E G I U M N M M O U F R N T
R H R T R J Y E C O Y N N U S
D T C I F R S T M R S O K H C
WO O L D A T A I N S R O D L T O I T S I A E L E W S M L I
C C H P G U S R S V T E O A N
H L A E D I X I A E E J R S I
B W Q H H Q M B R C O R H T C
P H I L O S O P H I C A L H M
T K P P N O S I R P Y R G T O
S S Z A E H B L O O D U E A N
E I R G O O D B Y E O T O U E
T T T N W E G V F E L R U P S T H S T E U V F A WW Q S Y E
EASY AS SUDOKU 1 2 3 1 4 1 4 2 NUMBERS Each grid is partially completed with numbers. The goal is to fill the missing numbers into the grid - from 1 to 4. In each column, row and grid you can use each number only once.
Can you find all 34 of these words in the puzzle above? The words might go up or down, left or right, forwards or backwards. The solution is below, but no peeking! AWESOME BLOOD CARDS CLINIC CLOTHES COW CURE DEAL DOCTOR FLUSH GOODBYE HAIRY
HEPATITIS HISTORY LIVER MOJO MONEY PHILOSOPHICAL PREVENT PRISON PUNKS ROOF SHELTER
SQUAT SURFING TEST TOUGH TRANSMISSION TREATMENT UTE WAVES WIN WIPEOUT YARD
SHAPES Each grid is partially completed with shapes - star, circle, square, triangle. The goal is to fill the missing shapes. In each column, row and grid you can use each shape only once.
NO PEEKING!
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TX! MAG #29 [HEP B]
B is for Baby Kat discovers she has hep B, what does it mean for her and her unborn baby? Double Trouble Ben is surpised to find out he has both hep C and hep B.
TX! MAG #26 [HEP B]
Can't "B" Happening Gina gets some surprise news from her ex-boyfriend. One Step At A Time Mick has to deal with a flare up in his hep B.
TX! MAG #28 [HEP C]
A Fine Line Morgan and her school friends get a group tattoo, and an extra surprise. Not Again Blake wants his first hep C treatment to be his only.
TX! MAG #25 [HEP C]
Ch-ch-changes Sam and Clara have both been living with hep C for a long time. Will the new treatments change all that for them?
TX! MAG #27 [HEP C]
Best Shot After 20 years with hep C, Lisa is excited to learn of new cures. Emad, less so. Livin' Doug takes on the challenges of life and hep C testing.
TX! MAG #24 [HEP C]
Change Of Plans Lola gets a tattoo in prison with a pre-used and unsterile needle... not much later she finds out she now has hep C too.
CROSSWORD 1 TARGET N B I S O C R A F
How many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters here? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the centre letter, and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No foreign words, no words with initial capitals and no hyphenated words.
ACROSS 1. Rodent; scumbag (3) 3. Limb, connects to the hand (3) 5. Painting; sculpture; music (3) 6. A baker might make one of these! (3) 8. Laid by a chook (3) 10. 1+9; 5+5 (3) 12. "Oh My God!" (3) 14. Over the hill; no longer young (3) 15. Animal friend (3) 16. A quick swim (3)
DOWN 1. Bone in your chest (3) 2. Being in the sun might give you this (3) 3. Consumed food (3) 4. For drinking coffee out of (3) 7. Utilise (3) 9. Chew, chew, chew, chew... (3) 10. Betting suggestion; the very top or end (3) 11. "To be, or --- to be." (3) 12. Weird; not even (3) 13. Small space between (3) Solution next page
What's your score?
5 Meh. But at least you tried! 11 Pretty good, eh? 18 Awesome 35 Holy crap! Mega genius! 65+ You are clearly a human dictionary and/or computer...we didn't even know half of those crazy words! Answers next page
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A little bit harder...!
TOO M NE L V E R T G A UM P Y E
N A OWN O Y N OW A S HY A I R E ND
CROSSWORD 2 SOLUTION
Solution at right (no peeking now!!)
CROSSWORD 1 SOLUTION
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C AR A A S P I H S L E U S NU C T HE
1. Money in notes and/or coins. (4) 2. Lift up; get a higher salary. (5) 3. You can make this with eggs. (6) 4. Midday. (4) 5. "Changing the subject...". (5) 9. A meal you have at midday! (5) 11. Solid; not soft. (4) 13. A man or dude or bloke. (3) 14. Gorilla; chimp. (3) 16. Fashionable; trendy. (2)
R A T A R M I A R T U B U N E G G S U T E N O M G I O L D A P E T D I P
1. A funny drawing. (7) 6. To have an item; to possess. (3) 7. Backbone. (5) 8. This very moment. (3) 9. A rod used to work a machine. (5) 10. Bashful; timid. (3) 12. Comfy and warm; like a bug in a rug. (4) 15. Referee for a cricket match. (6) 17. That group of people. (4) 18. Finish. (3)
TARGET SOLUTION (red=more common) acorn, acorns, arson, bacon, baron, barons, bicorn, bios, bison, boar, boars, boas, bonsai, born, carbon, carbons, carob, carobs, casino, ciao, ciaos, cion, cobia, cobias, cobra, cobras, cobs, coif, coifs, coin, coins, confab, confabs, cons, corn, corns, fiasco, FIBROSCAN, fora, icon, icons, info, insofar, ions, iron, irons, isobar, nobs, oafs, oars, obis, orbs, orca, orcas, robin, robins, robs, rocs, scion, scoria, scorn, snob, soar, soba, sofa, sofar, sonar, sonic, sora, sorb
FOR MORE INFO ON HEP C CURE - CALL THE HEPATITIS INFOLINE ON 1800 803 990