Hepatitis B on popular podcast |
A leading science podcast currently is focusing on hepatitis B, and the two experts interviewed are Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, senior vice president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, and Su Wang, MD, MPH, FACP, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Scientific and Medical Advisory Board.
This Podcast Will Kill You, has over 14,000 global followers and is one of “The best science podcasts for staying sharp and sounding smart,” according to Popular Science magazine.
In the first of a two-part series, Dr. Wang talks about her personal experiences with hepatitis B as a doctor, patient and advocate. Then the hosts tackle the in-depth science behind hepatitis B. In the second episode, Dr. Cohen discusses stigma and discrimination, plus what it's like to work in public health. Learn more here.
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We need your help to make the
Hepatitis B Foundation Gala a success
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Our annual Hepatitis B Foundation Gala is set for April 1 this year, and we're hoping the pandemic will have eased enough that it will be in-person!
We need your help to make this event a success! Not only do we hope to see you there, but we need donors and sponsors to make the night everything it can be.
We also need your help to celebrate the career of Dr. Timothy M. Block as he prepares to step down. Please send him a congratulatory message here.
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Liver cancer - close the care gap |
A team at Roche created a video for World Cancer Day to bring attention to the care gap faced by people with liver cancer. It has a panel discussion featuring a physician living with liver cancer and his wife, also a physician, in conversation with researchers and patient advocates. Their discussion highlights what's missing in order to improve the lives of people diagnosed with liver cancer. Check it out here.
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Year of the Tiger - strength during a new hepatitis B diagnosis |
New blog: Happy Lunar New Year!
This year is the Year of the Tiger. The Tiger is a symbol of strength and bravery.
Let’s go into this Lunar New Year with strength and bravery. When we are first diagnosed with a health condition, it just does not affect us physically, but mentally and emotionally.
Many of us experience fear, depression, anxiety and powerlessness. Being diagnosed with hepatitis B can be scary -- you might not feel strong or brave -- and that is okay! The great news is that you can live a long and healthy life with hepatitis B. Keep reading here.
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#justB persistent: watch Joe's story |
Feb. 28 is Rare Disease Day, so we are sharing Joe's story this month. Joe has both hepatitis B and the rare, hepatitis Delta – a serious coinfection of hepatitis B.
Joe has learned as much as he can about his coinfection, and after discovering that treatments were limited for hepatitis delta, he joined the only clinical trial available at the time. Although Joe had to discontinue the trial early, his health is now stable and he's glad to have contributed to important research. Even after his difficult journey, Joe is still hopeful that better treatments, and even a cure, are on the way.
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Should I take milk thistle? |
New blog: Silymarin or “milk thistle”, an herb and extract of milk thistle seeds, is a supplement commonly taken by people living with hepatitis across the world.
However, its unproven benefits remain controversial. It is not a treatment for hepatitis B or D, nor has it been shown to have any effect against fighting these viruses. Keep reading here.
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I'm in love - how do I tell my partner I have hepatitis B? |
Welcome to Consult Corner, where we answer some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive!
This month's question: I’m in love! How do I tell my partner that I have hepatitis B?
We receive a version of this question every day, which means not only is this an important question, but it is also a challenge that is shared by many people living with hepatitis B.
Sharing your hepatitis B status with loved ones can be difficult, and it is important to be prepared for it. Make sure you are well informed about hepatitis B, so that you can answer questions. Have resources on hand, like Hepatitis B Foundation website pages or blogs flagged and ready to share. Additionally, you need to be prepared mentally for all sorts of reactions (both yours and theirs): some may be wonderfully supportive, while others may be surprised, fearful or even angry.
Regardless of how the situation unfolds, please know that hepatitis B does not define who you are or what you can do, and millions of people with hepatitis B have loving, intimate relationships! And there are places you can turn to for support throughout your hepatitis B journey. Read more here.
If you are interested in learning more about topics like this, please join the HepBCommunity online forum here.
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New "B Heppy" podcast: #justB storytellers part three |
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New this month: In part three of a three-part series, B Heppy chats with real #JustB storytellers. This episode focuses on common myths and misconceptions about hepatitis B and offers advice for people who are newly diagnosed.
You can find the podcast episodes here or anywhere you get your podcasts .
AND, if you'd like to suggest a topic for B Heppy, please send an email to info@hepb.org.
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Hepatitis delta and liver cancer webinar |
The Hepatitis B Foundation continues to work to raise awareness about and promote equitable testing, treatment and linkage to care for hepatitis delta.
We also will hear from Rhea Racho, the Hepatitis B Foundation's public policy and program manager, about opportunities for those living with and affected by hepatitis delta worldwide to get involved in advocacy efforts and share their stories through our B the Voice and #justB storytelling programs! Register here.
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Free CME educational materials |
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Infectious Disease Hub: The CME Outfitters Infectious Disease Hub is here to provide clinicians and patients with access to education in order to address the challenges in screening and treating patients with HIV and/or HBV/HCV. Links to dedicated patient education hubs offer tools to improve health literacy and engage patients to be active participants in their treatment plan. Learn more here.
Hepatitis B Patient Hub: Here you will find educational resources and tools designed to help you better understand how HBV is transmitted, the importance of screening for HBV, and your treatment options. You will also find a variety of tools, including videos and an animated guide that provide useful information about HBV. Learn more here.
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Hepatitis B Foundation's journal pick of the month |
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Trends in Pricing and Out-of-Pocket Spending on Entecavir Among Commercially Insured Patients, 2014-2018
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Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) results in considerable liver-related illness and death. Treating CHB in the U.S. is cost-effective, but high out-of-pocket spending on first-line therapies are likely to be a treatment barrier.
For entecavir, a generic drug that is one of the first-line agents used for treatment of CHB, there has been a steep decline in the average price that pharmacies pay for the drug (i.e., national average drug acquisition cost [NADAC]) because of manufacturer competition). Yet, the list price, which determines the out-of-pocket spending by patients, has remained high. The authors analyzed trends in the number of manufacturers, average wholesale price, NADAC and out-of-pocket spending for entecavir among commercially insured people living with CHB between 2014 and 2018 in the U.S. Read more here.
Note: Additional recommendations for new journal articles are posted here.
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If you missed last month's The State of Hepatitis B webinar, presented by Hep B United and the World Hepatitis Alliance, you can watch it here.
Feb. 24 - Blumberg Institute Seminar: Keith Jerome, PhD
March 1 - Zero Discrimination Day
March 24 - Blumberg Institute Seminar: Drew Weissman, MD
March 31 - Blumberg Institute Seminar: Peter Leedman, PhD
April 1 - Hepatitis B Foundation Gala, Warrington, Pa.
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Learn more about our research and education programs at www.hepb.org
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The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B worldwide. Our commitment includes funding focused research, promoting disease awareness, supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary source of information for patients and their families, the medical and scientific community, and the general public. |
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Hepatitis B Foundation I 3805 Old Easton Road Doylestown, PA 18902 I
215-489-4900 I info@hepb.org
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