Hi Carol,    HCV Rx is NOT chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is using drugs to kill cancer cells. Both can have unpleasant Sx.  A common Sx of both is hair loss- however this is more severe in chemo. when patients may lose all their hair. This doesn't happen in HCV Rx but the hair can get very thin and sparse. Another common feature is anaemia- in chemo. all actively growing cells are destroyed and this includes bone marrow cells. In HCV Rx, Riba Peg and the DAA's all contribute to the anaemia, but this is an haemolytic anaemia caused by direct action of the drugs on the red blood cells. Skin problems can occur in both, together with nausea, dry mouth etc.

So although both treatments have some common side effects, I'd rather have the HCV Rx. In general, older patients with more severe disease have worse Sx. Young, fit patients with minimal liver damage may not have ANY Sx.

Who do people often compare HCV antiviral treatment to chemotherapy.  Is is really considered chemotherapy, or are the two actually different?