Rep. Hank Johnson: I Have Hepatitis C

*"I'm going to be a public figure who takes the stigma away from having the virus," he said.*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rep. Hank Johnson: I Have Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Can Lead To Cancer, Liver Failure

ATLANTA -- Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., revealed Monday that he has hepatitis C, a serious liver disease that can lead to fatal complications such as cancer or liver failure.

In recent months, Johnson, 55, has appeared thin and frail. The two-term Atlanta-area congressman said in a statement that he has been undergoing rigorous treatment to eradicate the disease, which was first diagnosed in 1998. He said the treatment is going well and that he has been free of the hepatitis C virus for almost a year.

Johnson said he doesn't know how he contracted the virus, which is spread through contact with infected blood. He said he plans to use his public profile to raise awareness of the disease, which infects some 4 million Americans.

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/21890634/detail.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rep. Hank Johnson suffering from Hepatitis C

By Michael O'Brien - 12/07/09 06:32 PM ET

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) announced Monday that he is suffering from Hepatitis C.

Johnson, a second-term congressman representing metropolitan Atlanta, said he's been suffering from the incurable disease affecting the liver for over a decade.

Johnson disclosed his disease in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday, and said that while he was declared free of the disease earlier this year, he had sustained liver damage and other health issues, for which he his currently seeking treatment.

The congressman was given a 20-year prognosis on life when he was diagnosed with the disease in 1998, with his final goal in life to become a congressman -- which he achieved in 2006 when he bested former Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.).

Johnson will also seek reelection in 2010, according to the AJC:

Up for reelection in November 2010, Johnson said he is planning to begin campaigning for office again, in earnest, when he's done with his latest round of treatment in February. At least two Republican challengers have said they'll run for his seat.

The Georgia Democrat said he had not engaged in risky behavior (such as intravenous drug use) to contract the disease, and that his goal now would be to campaign against the stigma associated with Hepatitis C.

"I'm going to be a public figure who takes the stigma away from having the virus," he said.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/71009-rep-hank-johnson-suffering-from-hepatitis-c

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rep. Hank Johnson battling hepatitis C

December 7, 2009 at 4:10 pm by Patrick Saunders in News

After shedding 30 pounds in the last year and suffering noticeably from slowed speech, confusion and fatigue, Rep. Hank Johnson revealed an 11-year-old secret today: he has been battling hepatitis C.

From the AJC:

He was officially declared free of the virus in January, but it has ravaged his liver, damaged his thyroid and caused other health problems, including depression, for which he’s also being treated. To keep the disease in remission, Johnson is going through an experimental treatment that he said has been the worst part so far.

“I am weaker than I ever have been,” Johnson, 55, said in his Capitol Hill office.

Johnson told the AJC that when his doctor gave him the initial diagnosis in 1998 and told him he had 20 years to live, he got his financial affairs in order and got to work on some life goals. That included winning a seat on the Dekalb County Commission before unseating Cynthia McKinney in the 4th congressional district in 2006.

He told the AJC that doctors have since told him there are “no limitations on how much longer he’ll live.”

Johnson says he has no plans to step down and will run for re-election next November, but won’t start campaigning until after he is done with his latest round of treatment in February.

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2009/12/07/rep-hank-johnson-has-hepatitis-c/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 7, 2009

NVHR Offers Congressman Hank Johnson Support & Encouragement As He Battles Chronic Hepatitis C Virus

Washington, DC-With today's forthright and valiant announcement by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) that he is undergoing treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) wishes to offer Congressman Johnson, Mrs. Johnson, and his entire family and staff our unwavering support as he works towards a cure.

Congressman Hank Johnson is believed to be the first sitting Member of Congress to acknowledge he is afflicted with chronic hepatitis C virus.

The NVHR is a coalition of more than 150 public, private, and voluntary organizations dedicated to reducing the incidence of infection, morbidity, and mortality from viral hepatitis in the US through strategic planning, leadership, coordination, advocacy, and research. http://www.nvhr.org/

"NVHR and the entire viral hepatitis community offer Congressman Johnson our support and encouragement as he battles chronic hepatitis C virus," said NVHR Chair Lorren Sandt. "In choosing to disclose his condition, Congressman Johnson is helping to propel chronic viral hepatitis to the forefront of our nation's public-health agenda. We are hopeful that Congressman Johnson's announcement will help spur greater awareness about the need for increased prevention, detection, and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C."

In light of this announcement, the NVHR encourages the American people to use it as an opportunity to learn more about the need to address the urgent public health crisis of chronic viral hepatitis B and C infection and to recognize that viral hepatitis is treatable. Hepatitis B is well managed with medications and more than 50 percent of hepatitis C patients are cured with anti-viral therapies. Bipartisan legislation was recently introduced in Congress by Representative Mike Honda (D-Calif.) and Charles Dent (R-Pa.) that would increase federal funding for comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management referral programs for chronic viral hepatitis B and C infection.

An estimated 5.4 million Americans - roughly 1 in 50 - are afflicted with chronic viral hepatitis infection and most don't even know it. Left undetected and untreated, chronic hepatitis B and C can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure. While African Americans and Asian Americans are disproportionately afflicted with chronic viral hepatitis infection, the diseases infect all walks of life in American society.

In January 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IoM) is expected to release a report on viral hepatitis in the United States that outlines strategies for reducing the incidence of viral hepatitis infection and to mitigate complications in those individuals with chronic infections.

Phil Blando, pblando@abmpartnersllc.com  , 202-258-4978

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 7, 2009 404-593-9126

Rep. Johnson's statement on hepatitis C

LITHONIA, GA – Over the past year, I have been on a robust course of treatment for hepatitis C (HCV), a virus that affects more than four million Americans. I am pleased to announce that my therapy is progressing well. My physician is encouraged by my response to treatment and expects complete success eradicating the virus.

I hope that my disclosure will provide others suffering from HCV with confidence to speak out and educate the community about this illness. Through clinical trials and medical research, we must always seek new, more effective treatments.

I plan to use my position as a public figure to raise awareness of the consequences of this infection and let others fighting hepatitis know that it is possible to succeed and excel while battling this disease.

The causes of this disease are many, but in the end it does not matter how someone contracted the virus. Like so many millions of others, I was infected many years without ever knowing how I contracted it.

In fact, more than half the people who have hepatitis C don't know how or when they contracted it. And many are fearful of the treatment regimen that impacts your life in unusual ways. Having come through a long course of treatment, I want to send a strong message that a cure is possible but you must be tested and treated.

I will be working with the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) to help educate my colleagues and the public to learn more about this largely misunderstood disease. It is treatable, but we must devote the will and resources it deserves in light of the urgent need.

Though this infection has caused me some discomfort and frustration, it has in no way affected my ability to legislate and serve my constituents. My record of attendance at votes and in committee meetings is outstanding. I have passed three major bills in this year alone. As Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy, I have led an active and effective committee. And as Southeast Regional Whip in the House leadership I played a significant role in rallying my colleagues support for historic health reform.

Today, I also announce that I will co-sponsor legislation offered by several of my colleagues in October, 2009 – H.R. 3974 – which would establish, promote, and support a comprehensive prevention, education, research and medical referral program for viral hepatitis infection.

It is a testament to the 111th Congress that we have men and women willing to stand up for average Americans and their families who have been impacted by hepatitis C and related illnesses. It is also gratifying that this is a bi-partisan bill because disease respects no socio-economic status, party or political philosophy.

Rep. Johnson's physician, Dr. Maria Sjogren of Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Congressman Johnson can be an inspiration to thousands of people who suffer from this illness. He has been a model patient, sticking with his course of treatment even when it was most difficult. His determination shows that people suffering from hepatitis can live normal lives and continue to be productive citizens.

Martha Saly, Director of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR)

On behalf of the entire chronic viral hepatitis community, we offer Congressman Johnson our support, prayers, and encouragement, said Saly, who was treated for hepatitis C in 1999 and cleared the virus. Congressman Johnson's announcement shines a much-needed spotlight on a public-health issue that has historically resided in the shadows. We are hopeful that Congressman Johnson's announcement will help spur greater awareness about the need for increased prevention, detection, and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C.