Question: My 53-year old twin brother was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, cirrhosis, COPD about 5 years ago. He was also diagnosed with having stage one Pancreatic cancer. He had two brain surgeries soon after he was diagnosed for "water on the brain" and a shunt was put at the base of his neck. He insists that the medication they put him on (chemo pill) and the biopsy after six months of medication that he is cancer-free and cirrhosis free. He stopped taking all medications four years ago and hasn't seen a doctor since. He unfortunately still drinks alcohol occasionally and is a heavy smoker. His stomach is swollen, although he looks like he lost weight. He claims it's a hernia. And at times his face/neck looks jaundiced. He has a poor appetite, manages to eat one meal a day. He is ALWAYS tired. He has episodes of shortness of breath a lot. I can hear him wheezing when he's just relaxing in a chair. He has coughing attacks, finds it hard to catch his breath again. He choked drinking coffee this morning and claimed it didn't go down the wrong windpipe. Well, if it didn't, then what caused him to choke? Personality-wise, he's cranky, short-tempered. Over the last year he has numerous shaking, trembling episodes, wobbles up and down the stairs, loses his balance, itches his hands and arms often. Currently, he almost dropped a newborn baby from shaking so bad. He has a new complaint of sharp pain on bottom of his feet like pins and needles. He is in complete denial though of having anything medically wrong with him. He doesn't even admit that he trembles and shakes. I need to know how/when he needs to be seen by the emergency room physician? He is very private and doesn't tell me when he doesn't feel well. What are the real telling signs of the end-stage symptoms? I don't want to find him dead in our house without trying to get him some medical help.

Thank you, Dr. XXXXXXX

I want to know once you are diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and Hepatitis C, does it ever go away entirely as if you were never diagnosed with it in the first place? If not, which is what I believe, what are the telltale signs of Stage 4 cirrhosis to look for?

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