Natalie Cole Hospitalized During Hepatitis Treatment

Natalie Cole is recovering in a New York hospital after experiencing what her doctors called "significant side effects." I first wrote about Natalie in July (see Natalie Cole: Keeping Hepatitis Unforgettable) after she announced that she was diagnosed with hepatitis C. My regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of celebrities sharing their hepatitis diagnosis with the public as a way to reduce the stigma too often surrounding this disease.

It appears that she's committed to staying with treatment, and that's worth noting. Treatment is difficult, but it's the only thing proven to suppress hepatitis C infection. Chronic hepatitis C infection will place her at higher risk for developing complications such as cirrhosis. The sooner she can reach a sustained response, the better she can avoid these complications. For more information, Reuters News and Associated Press report on her setback. Best of luck Natalie!