Pamela Anderson became a household name after regularly appearing in Playboy magazine and landing a major acting role in Baywatch in the 90s. That decade, which was an eventful time for the star, is the subject of a new series on Disney+ called Pam & Tommy. Pamela’s life has attracted much fanfare but what is less publicised is her battle with hepatitis C, which dragged on for more than 15 years.
Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver. If left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years.
“They said I would die in 10 years,” Pamela said in an interview with ABC News.
“When someone tells you something like that you kind of act differently subconsciously.”
Pamela lived with the virus for more than 15 years, but in 2015 she learned that she had been cured of the virus after completing a 12-week regimen with a drug called Sovaldi.
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“Instead, you may have another blood test after a few months to see if your body fights off the virus.”
The health body adds: “If the infection continues for several months, known as chronic hepatitis, treatment will usually be recommended.”
Treatment for chronic hepatitis C (those infected for 6 months or more) involves:
- Tablets to fight the virus
- A test to see if your liver is damaged
- Lifestyle changes to prevent further damage.
There are six main strains of the virus. In the UK, the most common strains are genotype 1 and genotype 3. You can be infected with more than one strain.
“You’ll be offered the medicine most appropriate for your type of hepatitis C,” explains the NHS.
Hepatitis C – what are the symptoms?
It is estimated that only around one in every three or four people will have any symptoms during the first 6 months of a hepatitis C infection.
Long-term infection with the hepatitis C virus is known as chronic hepatitis C.
“Chronic hepatitis C is usually a ‘silent’ infection for many years, until the virus damages the liver enough to cause the signs and symptoms of liver disease,” explains the Mayo Clinic.
Signs and symptoms include:
- Bleeding easily
- Bruising easily
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Dark-coloured urine
- Itchy skin
- Fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites)
- Swelling in your legs
- Weight loss
- Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Spider-like blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas).
According to the Mayo Clinic, every chronic hepatitis C infection starts with an acute phase. Acute hepatitis C usually goes undiagnosed because it rarely causes symptoms.
“When signs and symptoms are present, they may include jaundice, along with fatigue, nausea, fever and muscle aches,” explains the health body.
“Acute symptoms appear one to three months after exposure to the virus and last two weeks to three months.”
