Hepatitis C

About 3.5 million people in the U.S. are living with hepatitis C, an infection that can damage the liver and lead to cancer. In the past, treatment was so difficult that many people couldn’t finish it, or skipped it altogether. But the newest generation of medications can wipe out the infection in weeks for most people, with few side effects. Here’s what you need to know about hep C.

The scary thing about hepatitis C is that it often goes unnoticed until it’s done serious damage to the liver. People may have a mild, flu-like illness shortly after becoming infected, then have no other symptoms for years—or decades. Watch out for these signs.