Elevated Alkaline Phosphates

Susie123
Susie123 Member Posts: 804
edited August 2020 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Has anyone with early stage BC had elevated alkaline phosphates? Mine were 156 a month ago, now they're 153. The onco wants to recheck them in a month and if they're still elevated do a bone scan and liver CT. I'm really freaking out, I've only had BC for 6 months. I was so grateful for a stage 1 grade 1 diagnosis, my nodes were clear. Could I already have mets? Has anyone had any experience with alk phos levels that were elevated?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Enjoyful
    Enjoyful Member Posts: 3,591
    edited June 2010

    Hi, Susie -

    Sorry you're having an area of concern, and so soon after your Stage I diagnosis!  My old onco told me that if both calcium and alkaline phosphatase are elevated, it's an indication of bone mets.  An indication, not a definitive.  It's good that your onco is following you closely.

    Since you're stage I, I'm guessing you did not have chemo?  My levels were skewed like crazy when I was on chemo but it turned out to be nothing.

    Are you on an aromatase inhibitor like Aromasin, Arimidex, or Femara?  I just read today that Arimidex can cause elevated AP levels.

    Hang in there, and please keep us posted!

    E

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Susie123
    Susie123 Member Posts: 804
    edited June 2010

    Yes, Thank You So Much for the quick response. I am taking Arimidex and my calcium levels were not elevated. I didn't do chemo, my oncotype score was low. I've been crying all afternoon. Seeing that Arimidex can cause that gives me hope...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Enjoyful
    Enjoyful Member Posts: 3,591
    edited June 2010

    You're welcome!

    Here's a link to an Astra-Zeneca publication about Arimidex.  It lists elevated AP levels as a possible, but infrequent, side effect.  Maybe print it out and take it to your onco?  If they don't see it very often, they might not expect it as a side effect.

    http://www1.astrazeneca-us.com/pi/arimidex.pdf

    I'm glad I saw this today!

    Take a deep breath, and have a glass of wine.  :-)

    Please keep us posted!

    E

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SusieMTN
    SusieMTN Member Posts: 795
    edited June 2010
    Susie123   I have elevated Alk Phos (about 149) it has been elevated since about Jan.  I had locally advanced BC.  I was told that medications can cause an elevation and not to be concerned as it isn't high enough.  I have taken both Arimidex and Aromasin.  I just had a bone scan and will now have an MRI as I did have areas with increase "uptake" BUT I have arthritis and issues that existed prior to BC. 
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karenz01
    karenz01 Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2010

    Hi.  I hope you got good news on your elevated ALP.  I too had early stage BC and my ALP is at 134 and is steadily rising.  I was on Femara but stopped it in May.  I'm very scared!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Susie123
    Susie123 Member Posts: 804
    edited July 2010
    Mine did come down, but it took 3 months. It's very scary. I didn't stop taking the Arimidex so that must not have been it.  I was afraid to take anything, even tylenol for a headache, because I was afraid that could be elevating it. Hopefully yours will start dropping as well. I'm learning to dread onco visits.Frown
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karenz01
    karenz01 Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2010

    I absoulately dread the doc visits and almost have a panic attack in the waiting room.  Well, perhaps the drugs are doing it but it levels itself out eventually?  I'll keep my fingers crossed and I am very happy you are okay.  Hang in there!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aussieched
    aussieched Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2010

    Hi Susie123

    I had IDC diagnosed may 07, with positive sentinal node, and my alkaline phosphatase has been elevated for at least the last 2.5 years.  I totally freaked out about the result, with my reading being in the 150+ for most of that time as I had also read that an elevated result could be a sign of bone mets.  I still really don't have any definite advice from my oncologist as to what can be causing it.  He said he will just watch it at this stage and basically asked if I have pain anywhere. I have lots of pain everywhere, however don't know if it is being caused by the oophrectomy and femara or from bone mets.  At this stage he is happy just to wait and watch, while I stress out about it and basically has not done any testing such as MRI, Pet or bone scans since my diagnosis.  We don't get all the testing here in Austraila that other ladies in other countries seem to get as routine.  It is a scary ride out here, not sure why, because I do have private cover, so that is not the problem.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karenz01
    karenz01 Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2010

    I was told that if it is elevated because of mets, your calcium would be elevated too if that's any comfort.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SusieMTN
    SusieMTN Member Posts: 795
    edited July 2010

    My MRI was normal.  But wanted to mention this, there is a test that can be done that will determine if the alkaline phosphatase is coming from bone or liver.  I personally wonder for myself if it was the Aromasin. I was put on Tamox. and having far less side effects.  You girls that are showing and elevation in alkaline phosphatase, have your doctors done scans?  It can be a relief to know that everything is OK and if not one wants to know ASAP right? 

    Wishing you all well!  Smile

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Susie123
    Susie123 Member Posts: 804
    edited July 2010

    I also heard that if it was elevated because of bone mets your calcium would be elevated too, and mine was not. If mine had not came down I was ready to do the scans, scared to death, but ready. I'm trying to live a little more "fear free" these days. I actually signed a 2 year contract recently when I had got to the point that I was afraid to commit to anything, for fear that I might not be here that long. I'm trying to move beyond the "fear" mindset. Has anyone else had a problem with that?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 872
    edited July 2010

    Susie123, last week I went to doc for back pain, you know how our minds work these days, I was thinking "could it be bc related?"....It was just a strain..I think we will be questioning every little ache, but to stay on top of this we have too....I'm sure they will watch your levels, but there probably is an non-bc answer for this....probably a meds issue....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wrsmith2x
    wrsmith2x Member Posts: 410
    edited July 2010

    I have had elevated ALP the entire time.....nothing to worry about....some of us are just that way.  Keep the faith!  Namaste'.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glojakab
    glojakab Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2014

    Do you have an update for me. The same has happened to me. My bone scan was perfect. My alkaline phosphates keep going up and my calcium. I think it is the anastrozole that I have been taking for 14 months. I am 68 and had stage 1 BC

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited November 2014

    glojakab, you ask a good question. We notice that this topic is a few years old. Perhaps you should start a new one with your question.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Susie123
    Susie123 Member Posts: 804
    edited November 2014

    hi glojakab,

    I wanted to let you know that I am the one who started this thread in 2010and had elevated alp for years before they returned to normal. Actually the blood work at my 4 year check up was the first normal alkaline phosphates results I have had. I'm almost 5 years out now, doing well, with no reoccurrence. My onco said he sees a few patients each week with no issues other than elevated alp that he doesn't understand why. I too have stage 1. Susie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AEC
    AEC Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2017

    Hi Susie123,

    Thank you for sharing about your ALP level increase and the good news you had. I have had 2 raised levels in a week 128 and 155 after a normal level for another doctor just 3 weeks ago! They ran a GGT that was 15 and normal. My calcium is within range too. I see my doctor tomorrow, and this weekend has been so hard. Everything I've read says that the GGT rules out a biliary reason for the rise, and so it must be bone. But that calcium should be elevated with bone mets. I'm on Arimidex now for 2 years almost. Could that be the reason for the sudden increase? I know I'm heading for tests and I was just getting past the PTSD of having gone through the breast cancer the first time. Its been a hard year, can stress do this? Well anyway, thanks for your words, they really helped. AEC

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2017

    Hi AEC,

    Welcome to the BCO community forums.

    Just letting you know that this thread has been inactive since 2014 so you may not receive many or any responses here. You can however, create your own brand new topic here if you would like to start up a conversation on this topic again or join more active threads.

    Let us know if you need help with this!

    The Mods.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mahometmom62
    mahometmom62 Member Posts: 132
    edited July 2017

    Hey Everyone!


    Thread not dead yet! I have elevated ALP 3 yrs after chemo.... then it went down, I Have had 3 bone scans for my back and all were clear and normal GGT. They have been normal till 3 weeks ago up to 135..... GGT normal Calcium Normal, and they did the break down test that shows where its coming from, it was liver. Doc wants a ultra sound on Monday.... omg I hate this!!!!!! Freaking out


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jojo0529
    Jojo0529 Member Posts: 193
    edited September 2017

    hope to revive this thread! All of my blood work was great except for the one number that matters: alp. I feel like it is coming from bone because my other liver markers are good. This is my first blood test since starting armindex 1.5 yrs ago. Any thoughts

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jojo0529
    Jojo0529 Member Posts: 193
    edited September 2017

    ma how was the ultrasound

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kdubyahoppa
    Kdubyahoppa Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2020

    mine was elevated on 12/12/19 I wonder but my calcium was fine. I was diagnosed with Stage 3A Feb 18, 2019. 1/16 lymphnodes positive. ER/PR positive, Her2 negative. 5 cm tumor 1 cm after 4 cycles of Taxotere & cytoxan. I had double mastectomy. Mentally beating the cancer is going to be hard. I’m so grateful for these forums I feel not alone when I read these. I was 25 when diagnosed. Had given birth to my 1st child before was diagnosed. He was 6 weeks old. He’s now a healthy happy 1 year old.2019 was a bittersweet year

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lulu44
    Lulu44 Member Posts: 37
    edited May 2020

    Hi everyone. I’m kinda freaked out bc my ALP gets checked every 3 weeks and it just keeps increasing. This week it was 194, (up 30 points from 3 weeks prior) and I’ve been having groin pain on the left side accompanied by numbness to my upper, back/lateral thigh for almost 3 weeks. The sports medicine dr thinks it s stress fracture to the hip from jogging and has me on crutches but my shoulder and armpit are still too sore and weak from radiation to use them. I had an X-ray of the pelvis, femur & lumbar spine on Tuesday and have a telemedicine appointment tomorrow with sports med for the results. I’m thinking it can’t be bad or she would’ve called but who knows. Im halfway through Kadcyla and have been on aromasin 2 months, had my ovaries out in Jan. I’m worried it’s bone Mets but none of the doctors or nurses seem concerned. Not sure if they’re bullshitting me so I’m not scared, what 44 year old breaks a hip jogging? I was barely jogging, being so careful...The MO ordered a liver ultrasound but I had Kadcyla today. Anyone else have anything like this

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RMC19
    RMC19 Member Posts: 27
    edited June 2020

    how are you doing? I am a similar DX and dealing with this too.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Tammark123
    Tammark123 Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2020

    I had an elevated alp three months ago. Subsequent bone scan and ct scan were clear. Headed in a couple weeks for a follow-up blood test. Suppose it’s time to start worrying for no reason again! My oncologist did say he sees many patients with high alp levels that have not had a reoccurrence. It’s just one of those levels that can be raised for no apparent reason.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RMC19
    RMC19 Member Posts: 27
    edited August 2020

    how did your follow-up go? I'm still dealing with this

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KMom57
    KMom57 Member Posts: 252
    edited August 2020

    Me too. Scared. Mine keeps rising.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Elderberry
    Elderberry Member Posts: 993
    edited August 2020

    LuLu40: All my blood work is just great but my ALP hovers around 140 - 150. I mention it to my MO every single time but he doesn't seem worried. He just said "some people just do" I tried to take comfort in that but I worry all the time that it mean something. I have liver mets so the higher ALP could just being showing that my liver has been under assault. Apparently taking too much Tylenol can elevated ALP. Glad to stumble upon this revived thread.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited August 2020

    Elderberry, tylenol can really wreak havoc on livers! I have heard doctors talk about previously healthy young people who are in hospital with liver failure due to tylenol OD. "acetaminophen toxicity is the most common cause of acute liver failure and the second most common cause of liver failure requiring transplantation" https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/acetaminophen-intoxication-a-criticalcare-emergency

    It's one of those trick questions on hepatology rounds; everyone guesses alcohol or fatty liver disease but it's tylenol....

    My pathophysiology prof was adamant that it was one of the most dangerous drugs on the shelf and that it should not be available OTC.

    My amateur opinion is that anyone with liver problems should try to avoid acetaminophen (& other liver stressors) as much as possible.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Elderberry
    Elderberry Member Posts: 993
    edited August 2020

    moth: I stopped using Tylenol many years ago. As for other "liver stressors" --- I admit it, it is hard to give up my Friday martini.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories