Hi Paulette,
I'm sure it absolutely can. My sister-in-law is living with Hep C, and luckily she is doing quite well after having lived with it for many years. She is about 48 and doing well.
Although I can't know what you are going through, I know that there are many people who do suffer from life threatening illnesses who stay positively focused and maintain a happy attitude, which in turn can help with health issues.
There is a lot of good material to read on the subject, and not sure if you are on Facebook, but there are also many groups focused on issues like this...
Let me know if you need any specific suggestions. I'm always glad to help in any way I can.
In the meantime, thanks for reaching out... you are not alone out there!