Steve Bingham, Co-Owner of the Internet Hepatitis B Information and Support List (www.HBList.org)

I guess it is human nature to dwell on the worst things that can come from having a chronic condition like hepatitis B, to the point that the disease can become a dark obsession. If hepatitis B takes over our lives, then it wins. So we need to remind ourselves from time to time that things aren’t so bad. There actually is quite a bit to be optimistic about when it comes to hepatitis B.

1) Hepatitis B is vaccine-preventable. Newborn babies of HBV-positive mothers can be protected by immediate vaccination and a shot of immunoglobulin (HBIG).

2) There are now six FDA-approved drugs for treatment of chronic hepatitis B, with more drugs in the pipeline.

3) Many of us can find a treatment that works to the point that the hepatitis B becomes “undetectable” or where the liver scarring (fibrosis) may stop, reverse or disappear.

4) People don’t have to die from hepatitis B. If you’re reading this newsletter right now, you’re learning about new treatments and studies about how to protect yourself from more serious liver disease such as liver cancer. In addition, studies have shown that people with chronic hepatitis B have a 1-2% chance each year of spontaneously losing the virus without treatment. Talk about winning the lottery, that’s exciting!

5) For those who require liver transplantation, new technology and new treatments have dramatically increased the rates of success and long-term survival.

In addition to the latest medical advances that have improved the future for chronic hepatitis B patients, there are other things to be grateful for. It’s my observation that people are more open about having hepatitis B in recent years. This means less discrimination, less embarrassment, and more people willing to tell their family and community to get tested and vaccinated.

There are also valuable resources for patients and families. While I don’t know of any face-to-face support groups specifically for people with hepatitis B, our online group has been in existence for almost nine years and I believe we have a good reputation for providing support and information to hundreds of people every day.

Of course I can’t forget to mention the Hepatitis B Foundation. I wish all those with chronic diseases were as lucky as we are in having an organization to turn to like them. What a class act! Their new Pennsylvania Biotech Center is a mind-boggling accomplishment. It will certainly be an exciting vehicle to greatly expand and accelerate their hepatitis B research.

So there’s my list of things we can be grateful for. Hope it helps raise everyone’s spirits. Come to think of it, I’m starting to feel good, too.