The biopsy is done by the doctor to determine what stage of liver disease you are. Dr. Zhang says it usually should only be done once every 5 years. Another expert said you can stay in one stage for 7 years (before going on to another stage). However, what you eat, think, say and do all affect the liver. I have a very good vegetarian diet. 15% of people's who get hep. C have such strong immune systems that they overcome it without any treatment. I was in that 15% until I took 1 1/2 bottles of kava kava a few years ago and it harmed my liver and activated the virus. I have been studying natural health since 1986.