Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has secretly been battling hepatitis C, but he is finally ready to raise awareness of the dangerous disease. Hepatitis C, a viral infection of the blood that can lead to liver disease, is often transmitted through dirty needles.

Recovering drug addict Tyler announced he is slowly getting better after a year of interferon treatments, which strengthen the immune system, and he is planning to speak publicly on Oprah Winfrey's chat show in order to warn people about the infection.

He tells the New York Daily News, "It is nonexistent in my bloodstream ... where it's like a complete cure. I've had hepatitis C for a long time, asymptomatic. I've been pretty quiet about this. The band took a break about three years ago. (My doctor) said now is the time, and it's 11 months of chemotherapy (interferon) so I went on that, and it about killed me.

"Hepatitis C is the one that, of all the people in this room, at least three have it and don't know it. It's the silent killer. I may go on Oprah and talk about this. I hope you don't mind me mentioning that."

Tyler joins fellow celebrity hepatitis sufferers Pamela Anderson, Naomi Judd and Larry Hagman.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)