Tx! MAG #41

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR!

Hi! Welcome to Tx! Mag #41!

In this edition we check out two blokes who have known they have hep C for a number of years, but - because they "feel OK" - have decided they don't need to do anything about it.

Our work in the community tells us that this can be common, especially with men pushing 45 years and over. They may have been living with hep C for more than half their life, but they still need a nudge to get across the line and think about starting treatment.

Treatment for hep C is now very affordable and effective... there's a 95+% cure rate, few or no side-effects, and pills taken daily for 8 or 12 weeks (for most people). There's never been a better time to get cured of hep C and tens of thousands of people in Australia already have over the last six years. But, as we all know, life gets in the way and, for one reason or another, plenty of people put it off... and put it off.

So, in this edition you'll meet Baz and Jim... despite knowing they have hep C, neither of them are interested in getting cured. Will they change their minds by the end of their stories? Read on to find out!

This edition also has the usual puzzles, a competition and a survey. You can go in the draw to win a $100 Coles/Myer voucher for both the survey (p11) and competition (p23) , so fill them out and send them in... no postage required! And yes, the prizes do go to real people! Hope you enjoy Tx! MAG #41! 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.

EDITOR/DESIGNER

Grace Crowley

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Tim Baxter

Justine (JD) Doige

Naomi Hatchman

Julian Karikalan

Kyle Leadbeatter

Leah McLeod

Maria McMahon

Kate Pinnock

Rhea Shortus

Thomas Wright

SMASHED!

Writer Charlie Foster

Artist Paul Mason

OPTIONS...

Writer Charlie Foster

Artist Trev Wood

CONSULTANTS gestaltcomics.com

Hepatitis Infoline

1800 803 990 (freecall)

e: info@hep.org.au w: hep.org.au

facebook: facebook.com/HepNSW twitter: @HepatitisNSW youtube: youtube.com/HepatitisNSW instagram: @hepatitis_NSW

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.

TREATMENT IS SO MUCH BETTER TODAY!

Curing your hep C means you don’t have to worry about passing it on to your partner, friends, or family. If you’re cured, the worry is gone.

TESTING

There are more choices and ways to test... n Point of Care finger prick test with results in 40 minutes; n Dried Blood Spot (DBS) finger prick test with results by text, call or email. You can get a DBS kit posted to you. (For more info on DBS see page 26.)

You can get tested at... n sexual health clinics; n doctor’s clinics; n drug and alcohol services; n needle and syringe programs (NSPs); n Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS).

TREATMENT AND CURE

The new treatment is a game changer… n cures over 95% of people; n has very few side-effects; n is pills only, just 1 or 3 pills a day; n no injections, no interferon; n takes 8 or 12 weeks; and n can be prescribed by local clinics, doctors and registered nurse practitioners.

Everyone has the right to the new hep C cure, even if you... n have cirrhosis or liver damage; n are using; n drink alcohol; n have been treated before and got hep C again; n have been treated in the old interferon days and it didn’t work; n are in prison; and/or n live with a mental health condition.

OUT THE SURVEY ON THE BACK OF THIS PAGE

CUT THIS PAGE OUT OF THE MAGAZINE

FOLD IN HALF ALONG THE BLACK DOTTED LINE BELOW, SO THAT THE ADDRESS IS ON THE OUTSIDE

STICK THE 2 SIDES CLOSED WITH STICKY TAPE OR STAPLES (ALONG THE ORANGE EDGES ABOVE AND BELOW)

PUT IT IN THE POST TO US (NO NEED TO BUY A STAMP, IT'S FREE TO SEND)

THESE $100 VOUCHERS CAN BE USED AT COLES/MYER & AFFILIATED STORES.

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)

4. What is your current postcode (or prison name)?

5. How could we make Tx! Mag better?

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

Strongly agree Agree Neither Disagree Strongly disagree calling the Hepatitis Infoline going to the Hepatitis NSW website talking to someone about support services talking to someone else about hepatitis it hasn't made me think about doing anything other (please let us know)

Strongly agree Agree Neither Disagree Strongly disagree

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander someone who doesn't usually speak English at home other (please let us know)

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 entry per person.

Name: Phone: Email: MIN :

Congrats to Karl D. who won a $100 Coles/Myer voucher from Tx! Mag #40. (...and yes, the prize does go to a real person! J)

Thank you to the many people who sent in their feedback over the last three months! We love to get, and 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

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. Do you need to have a blood test after hep treatment has finished? [SMASHED!]

Yep, about 12 weeks after... it's the only way to know for sure you've been cured.

Um... nah?

Don't know... I have to read SMASHED!

Ravenclaw

2. Can you get tested and treated for hep C in prison? [OPTIONS!]

Yeah, mate, sure can!

Um... fake news?

Don't know... I have to read OPTIONS!

Slytherin

3. Do ambos and other medical staff need to take special care with hep C patients? [SMASHED!]

Nope, they should take the same care with everyone.

Um... I guess?

Don't know... I have to read SMASHED!

Gryffindor

4. How effective are the new hep C treatments? [OPTIONS!]

Very - 95% cure rate, no side-effects, 8 or 12 weeks (for most people)

Um... useless?

Don't know... I have to read OPTIONS!

Hufflepuff

prison and MIN). This prize offer is for NSW residents only - one entry per person.

Name: Phone: Email: Postcode (or prison name): MIN :

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

Congrats to Wendy R. who was the lucky winner from last edition's competition draw!

FIND-A-WORD!

EASY AS SUDOKU

1 1

3 4 2 3

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 38 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!

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.

E L

S

H A L Z X

A

A R B S E H C T I T S D W F

E U U D E R I T K Q B I E Q A

M A G O P R O O F O S U N N

N O B C H Y T I P M O E K G C

A R K U H T D N M M L U C K Y

L N P U M E E A E S I N G L E

U I K R H P T R E M E M B E R

B N I S S E C L U F E R A C D

M G A O T I E M A S Q B R U H

A M R U P L M X R R R P O T P

S R H E A Y U U Q A U R U N S

Y G L O R Y N A I C P R D N C

T O N I G H T N F S T I S I V

TX! MAG #40 [HEP C]

Myths & barriers!

This edition looks at reasons that people think might prevent them from starting hep C treatment... "too busy", "not sick enough", "reinfection", "side effects".

TX! MAG #39 [HEP C]

Community Peers

We learn about how community peers build a bridge of trust and understanding between people living with, or at risk of, hep C and clinical staff.

TX! MAG #38 [HEP C]

Dried Blood Spot (DBS)!

April and Andy decide to take a test for hep C... even better, they can do it with a super easy DO-IT-YOURSELFAT-HOME kit known as a Dried Blood Spot (DBS) test!

The dried blood spot (DBS) test is a new, free, easy and private way to test for hepatitis C and HIV.

Just take a few drops of blood from your finger, mail the test back and get your results by phone, text or email. You don’t need to go to a clinic or see a doctor to do this test.

TARGET

A O G S S D I N ACROSS 1. An area of wet muddy ground; marsh (3) 3. Total; tally; result of an equation. (3) 5. Say something in order to obtain an answer! (3) 6. Affirmative; correct; that is right... (3) 8. Tasty! (3) 10. Fuss and bother. (3) 12. ---time... ---where... ---thing... ---one. (3) 14. Happy dog's tail does this! (3) 15. Long, snakelike, slippery fish. (3) 16. Large deer with large antlers... (3) DOWN 1. Body of water in part surrounded by land? (3) 2. Methane; helium; oxygen; neon; fart. (3) 3. Airspace. The heavens. (3) 4. Mother. (3) 7. Finish. Final part. (3) 9. Tall rounded vase with lid, for storing ashes. (3) 10. Top card in any suite. (3) 11. A night bird... who? (3) 12. How old? Length of time alive. (3) 13. A shaggy ox from Tibet. (3)

Solution next page

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.

TARGET SOLUTION

(red=more common)

adonis, agon, aiding, anis, assign, dang, dangs, danio, DIAGNOSIS, ding, dingo, dings, dins, dissing, doing, doings, dona, donas, dong, donga, dongs, dons, dosing, dossing, gain, gains, ganoid, ganoids, gins, gnosis, gonad, gonads, indigo, ions, nags, naos, nisi, nodi, nods, nogs, sain, sand, sands, sang, sans, sasin, siding, sidings, sign, signs, sing, sings, sins, snag, snags, snog, snogs, song, songs, sons

EMPTY?DISPENSERCALLTHE HEPATITISINFOLINE

Why do I need to know if my liver is healthy?

If you have hep B or hep C, or are drinking too much, your liver could be damaged. If your liver is damaged, it can stop working properly and this can make you sick. How do I find out if my liver is healthy?

Speak to your nurse, doctor or clinic about getting your liver checked. This is called a 'liver assessment' or a 'liver check'.

What is a liver check?

A liver check is usually done with blood tests and a fibroscan. A fibroscan is like an ultrasound, it doesn’t hurt. These tests will show your doctor or nurse how healthy your liver is. They will also tell the doctor or nurse how much damage there is.

I don’t feel sick, why should I get a liver check?

You might have had hep B or hep C for years and don't feel sick. This doesn't mean that your liver is healthy.

What if my liver isn’t healthy?

If you have hep C, think about the new treatments. They cure nearly everyone. Speak to your doctor or nurse about your options.

If you have hep B, have a liver check every 6 months. The checks might say you should start hep B treatment to help stop liver damage.

Your liver might be unhealthy for other reasons, like drinking too much alcohol or being overweight. Talk to your GP about how to stop more liver damage.