ELEVATED LIVER ENZYMES

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thegoodfight
thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Saw one of my oncs yesterday and my ALT level is elevated.  Normal is 0-31 and mine is 36 and 6 mos ago it was 34.  My AST levels are within the normal range.  I do have a fatty liver.  My Onc has asked me to have no alcohol for the next month and then retest the ALT.  I am only a social drinker but do consume more since retirement and a very active social life.  Hopefully the next test will show a drop in the levels.  If not he will want to do scans..................ugh.  I also see an oncolgist at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and have an appt. for a followup ultrasound next week (found a questionable lymph node in breast 4 mos ago) and I will ask him to weigh in on the elevated enzymes.

Have any of you dealt with a similar problem?  I appreciate any input.  Thanks

Caren

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited April 2010

    Caren...The Lab I go to Normal Range for ALT is listed 3-35.

    I just checked my results. 6 months ago was 37. 3 months ago dropped to 30.

    I take cholesterol med so my liver enzymes are checked every 3 months.

    My Dr is not concerned I have my annual on the 14, I will ask him some questions.

    Sheila

    PS; I read about fatty liver what does it mean?

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited April 2010

    I've had high ALT readings in the past (eg. 108) - even a little bit of alcohol the day before a test can skew the results. My doc also said some people tend to run a bit high - and levels can change throughout the day.  I'm a bit surprised your doc is concerned about a few points over, but it can't hurt to see what an alcohol-free month does to your levels.  Good luck. 

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited April 2010

    Seyla888, I am not sure what fatty liver actually means but I think it is some damage over the years of being overweight.  I will go over that with my internist when I have my physical in a couple of months.

    Luah, I think I too have always run a little high and will also check that with my internist.  I did go back and look at the calendar and yes, I has attended a function the evening before and did have some alcohol, so maybe there is a correlation.  In any event, I am following orders and will go without any alcohol for a month and be retested.  It will be interesting if I actually lose some weight by cutting out those wine calories.  Hmmmmmmm.  

    I will keep you all posted, thanks.

    Caren

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  • Tamara1201
    Tamara1201 Member Posts: 70
    edited April 2010

    Caren, When I went to the Oncologist last year (June) to start chemo, my liver enzymes were elevated, ALT was 50 and AST 57, I get them checked every three months because I have Multiple Sclerosis and the medicine I'm on for it can cause liver damage. They had never been elevated before, and I've been on it for years, but they did the abdominal CT and everything was fine. They did start me out at a reduced dose of Taxotere which kind of bothered me. They did go up just a little during chemo, but nothing near a dangerous level, and they have gone down some, but remain elevated. One of my Oncologist, there are 3 in the practice, mentions fatty liver everytime I see him, I told him I've been "fat" a long time.

    I don't think they are usually concerned about a few points, well that's what my Neurologist said, but I do avoid alcohol, except on rare occassions, and limit the amount of tylenol I take, so many products add it to other things, like cold medicine, that you have to be careful. I take several medicines that can effect your liver so I try to keep an eye on it. Good luck with the lymph node

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  • hope2
    hope2 Member Posts: 73
    edited April 2010

    Hi Caren,

    my sister had elevated liver enzymes for 18 months after the birth of her 2nd daughter and they read normal last month, she is only a social drinker and not even that often but apparently rubbish food has an awful effect on our liver also, especially processed foods and sauces esp crisps and sweets. She lost 22 lbs since Jan and now her reading is normal, whether it is drinking loads of water, the healthy eating or the additional exercise that has done it, i do not know, she joined ww after xmas.

    Milk thistle is meant to be excellent to cleanse the liver also, but if you are still on treatment make sure and ask the doctor before taking any supplement.

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited April 2010

    Thanks hope2.  I am almost sure it is weight related.  I need to lose somewhere around 25 pounds.  I have been overweight for many years now and I think my liver enzymes have been slightly elevated for awhile now, even before bc.  I did see the onc at Moffitt CC  a couple of weeks ago.  He is not concerned at all about the levels, since they are only slightly elevated.  Infact, he said that if the same test was done hours apart you would probably get different readings.  On a side note, I had my followup US and there is no change, so they are still saying "probably benign", which is good news.  We will continue to follow up.  I will still have my liver enzymes retested (May 6) after one month with no alcohol to see if that changes the readings.  I finished active treatment over a year ago, so I will ask about milk thistle.  Thanks for your response.

    Caren

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  • angelsabove
    angelsabove Member Posts: 363
    edited April 2010

    I know this is not the alternative thread, but would like to add that Milk Thistle is suppose to be really good for the liver. I take 400mg a day. I know the American Cancer Society posted a report on a trial using Milk Thistle and it showed to REPAIR liver damage from Chemotherapy. I take 400mg every night before bed. They say when u sleep is when the body heels itself. I did not have time to read through the post. If someone has already mentioned Milk Thistle then I apologize. 

    May God Bless Us All 

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited April 2010

    Caren, I know I lost weight when I gave up alcohol for a month; that was a couple of years ago before my Dx. Funny thing, though, my liver enzymes still read high!  My doc wasn't too concerned, just wanted to keep an eye on it. Of course, recently, I've had frequent tests since being on chemo and most have been in the normal range.  Hope you'll keep us posted on your progress.

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  • hope2
    hope2 Member Posts: 73
    edited April 2010

    Hi Caren,

    i am trying to lose a few pounds myself, i am overweight now for the first time in my life but only by about 4lbs, so not too bad but i have always been about one stone under the max weight for my height so nothing is really working so far, so now i have taken a more relaxed attitude as i don't finish active treatment till june, i am on the avastin trial. My liver enzymes are normal so far, although we had a college reunion the weekend so might be elevated this week.Wink

    Milk thistle also makes your eyes look lovely as the whites go really white in contrast to the colour, i know the cleansing the liver is more important but it has other benefits.

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited May 2010

    I am starting to feel overwhelmed.  This week I am dealing with a swelling in my left rib area and the onc wants me to see my breast surgeon and that is not happening until next Wednesday.  In the mean time yesterday I had the retest of my ALT levels after no alcohol for 5 weeks............great, it went from 36 to 41.  The normal range is for this test is 0-31.  What is going on?  Now they want me to go a spell with no alchohol again (darn those two glasses of wine after 5 weeks tasted real good last night) and retest me again on June 14th.   I am back on xanex, it least for a couple of days till I adjust to all this good news.   I am hoping because of my knee injury ( I know, I am falling apart) and not doing any exercise that maybe that added to increased levels.  Before the injury I was exercising every day alternating tennis, pilates and personal training, so I do know that I have gotten a lot softer this last two months.  Any  body out there have any similar problems or answers.  Thanks in advance for any help and of course support.  How do we get through this without each other?

    Caren

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited May 2010

    Caren:  Sorry to hear you're dealing with all this.  A few years ago, on my doc's advice, I did shun alcohol for a month to see if I could bring my liver enzymes down. They went up. No explanation for it, and my doc took a watch and wait approach.  They've mostly been normal through chemo. 

    I think the only way they can rule out something going on is with an abdominal ultrasound - maybe that's an idea if the second "dry" period doesn't help.  

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  • thenewme
    thenewme Member Posts: 1,611
    edited May 2010

    Hi Caren,

    Sorry you're having these issues!  Any chance you're taking tylenol or pain meds? After my surgery, I had elevated liver enzymes, and it was due to the pain medications I was taking.  Even regular use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) can cause problems, so I just thought I'd mention it in case you're taking anything for your knee problems and rib pain.  My levels came right down when my doctor switched pain medications.  I hope it's something as simple as that for you too! 

    Maybe you could call your breast surgeon and see if there's a waiting list for cancellations - the waiting is torturous! 

    Best of luck.  Hang in there!

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited May 2010

    Thanks for you input Luah and thenewme.  Oddly, I think my levels were fine during chemo.  I am now out of chemo 16 months so odd to have something going on now.  I did find in my research (I love the internet) that muscle injuries can cause ALT levels to rise, and I have been dealing with a severe strained muscle behind my knee for about 3 months now. I did have an MRI but it showed no tears just the severe strain.  It does not seem to be improving.  I have given up tennis, Pilates and personal training all this time and I am beginning to feel pretty lousy, not to mention the scale creeping up..........ugh.  Even with the muscle injury I have not taken either tylenol or ibuprophen because I know that can raise the levels.  I am definitely confused and so is the onc.  Now I have a swelling by my left rib and even though none of the various docs think it is "anything", I am having a bone scan on Friday.  I think they just want to rule things out.  Never a dull moment, and I have learned it is all so very different once you have had cancer.

    Caren

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  • Abdul
    Abdul Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2010

     Salam to you, Salam mean peace be unto you  

    I call you Good, Be good fighter agaisnt Liver enzyme

    Hi bro, regarding Elevated L/Enz I think the best way to reduce and or normalize your liver function is to quit Alcohol at first place, secondly don't smoke as the smoking is the key of liver elevation, because it infiltrate the toxic directly to your liver which is an oppression we are doing into our body. The other thing I would like to mention is that the sooner you pay attention the better result you will get, as my situation is the same since 2005 because i didn't pay too much attention. My liver elevated in 2005 right after [liver Killer] they call it Tylenol = [Pain Killer] even the doctor advise to take pain killer, they don't pay attention to its side effects because they have a good business out of it.

     I tell you if you don't pay attention to your health no one will care about it. We shouldn't ignore having elevated enzyme as it may course very complicated disease in liver as Cirrhosis, Fibrous and cancer. it is a good time to take care it before it get worse. There are something need it to be avoided as follows as my experiences: If you have Elevated Liver Enzyme avoid eating nuts, oil, animal fat, fried food, red meat, sugar, eggs yolk, white eggs no problem, not (its yellow) also reduce salt, spices and dairy product. If you are serial eater you can use Goat milk it is the best milk make sure use [Goat Milk % or 2%] not fatty gout milk also its cheese with low fat is good as its nature is (cold/cool) which is good for liver. Daily Sport and losing weight is another cure for it any kind of exercise is the best if you can. Despite of all these things you are doing, if still your liver doesn't get better please don't under estimate it as it is the most important organ functioning in your body ever human think about it. God created it in the best manner to purify our body from oxidant /toxic which inflate daily in our body. This morning I found out that if the elevated enzyme doesn't get better there is another to remove the fat out of liver by surgery. you can check this what this Doctor say about it in [youtube]

       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iElzKBOjHY4

     If you have discovered something about it please post it as it is kind of chairity for those who straggle with this disease.

    God bless you because he is the ultimate cure giver and good luck

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