Recently, Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole, 58, announced she was diagnosed with hepatitis C, a virus that can lead to chronic inflammation of the liver. The disease can also progress to scarring of the liver (fibrosis) and advanced scarring (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.

Graham Woolf, MD, associate clinical professor of Medicine at UCLA/Cedars Sinai Medical Center, told the press that because Cole has responded well to treatment, "[She has] an increased chance of cure. But she has also suffered significant side effects from the anti-viral medicine, which is the only FDA authorized treatment for hepatitis C. Her side effects include fatigue, muscle aches and dehydration, but she is recovering from these.”

While there are vaccines for hep A and B, there is none for hep C.

Learn more about hep C treatment here.