Art of Aging: Testing baby boomers for Hepatitis C

BRYN MAWR, Pa. (WPVI) -- Millions of Americans have a potentially life-threatening disease and don't know it.

When Dr. Scott Fink of Lankenau Main Line Health told Bonnie Rosen of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania "You are officially cured now." These were the best words she could hear.

About 10 years ago, a routine blood test gave Rosen a real shock, she had the hepatitis C virus.

"Initially, I thought they made a mistake," said Rosen.

Rosen couldn't imagine where she'd gotten it.

"Until I remembered that I had a lot of blood transfusions," she said.

Dr. Scott Fink says hepatitis C is spread through sexual contact or drug users sharing needles. But some, like Rosen, were infected when they received transfusions before widespread blood screening started in 1992. Once the virus is in the body, it causes inflammation that can scar the liver.

"When the liver is replaced mostly by scar tissue, it becomes hard as a rock and cannot perform its functions," said Dr. Fink.

Hepatitis C is a silent killer.

Dr. Fink adds, "It does its damage over many years, and patients don't even know they have it."

That's why experts want anyone born between 1945 and 1965 to be tested.

Baby Boomers are 5 times more likely to have the disease.

When Rosen was diagnosed, her liver was not yet damaged, so she delayed treatment to avoid the often-debilitating side effects of what was then the best drug - interferon.

But, when a new drug Sovaldi came out, Rosen says, "We decided now is the time."

The new hepatitis drugs can cure the disease, and in a much shorter time.

However, the cost - up to $90,000 is often an issue.

"For a lot of people who don't have insurance, it's not even a possibility," says Rosen.

Fortunately, Rosen's insurance did cover some of the cost.

Now that she's hepatitis-free, she wants others to get tested too.

"It's something that should really be checked," Rosen says.

For more information visit our Art of Aging section.