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Britain's first support group for hepatitis patients has been launched in London.
Under the mentor scheme, they will be "coached" by people who have recovered from hepatitis B and C. Experts warn that thousands of people are unknowingly suffering from the virus.
Today, Kosh Agarwal, consultant hepatologist at King's College hospital, which is running the group, said: "A lot of people, including doctors, do not know that hepatitis C is treatable.
"The Government has spent more money telling people how to switch to digital television than they have on hepatitis awareness."
A spokesman for the hospital said about 100,000 people in the UK have hepatitis C but have not been diagnosed. Treatment can last for up to a year and involves weekly injections and twice daily tablets.
Hepatitis United Group has been set up to help patients cope with the treatment. Martin Williams, from Crystal Palace, was cured of hepatitis C after being treated at King's.
The 52-year-old, who is helping run the group, said: "The side effects vary and some people just have mild flu-like symptoms. At the other end of the spectrum it can make people anaemic and exhausted. Sometimes patients just want to talk to people who understand what they are going through."
Dr Agarwal added: "There is no better way of learning about the virus than listening and speaking to others already living with it."
Mr Williams, a DJ, found out he had hepatitis after a routine check-up. He believes he may have got it after a blood transfusion 30 years ago or when he gave blood in Turkey and the same needle was used on different people. His treatment involved four tablets a day and one injection a week. He said: "At times the side effects were pretty grim. I felt exhausted, and would often find putting one foot in front of the other difficult. However, when the course of drugs was complete, I did eventually start to feel better.
"Now I feel fantastic. I have more energy and a brighter outlook on life.
"When I was told I had hepatitis I thought I had it for life. I want to raise awareness about the treatment and offer support to other patients."
If left untreated, hepatitis B and C can cause permanent damage to the liver. Body Shop founder Anita Roddick suffered from hepatitis C, thought to be linked to a blood transfusion after childbirth. Before she died of a brain haemorrhage in 2007 she campaigned to raise awareness of the disease.
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