My Mind: "your cancer has gone to your liver."

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pabbie
pabbie Member Posts: 370
edited March 2017 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

....my oncologist is trying to find Mets to the liver because of my fluctuating liver enzyme tests that I take every 6 months.

My anxiety always skyrockets to a a level 10. This week my onc made me get an ultrasound of my liver and more blood draws. (which they can't find a vein in my good arm., poked several times, so I feel like fainting, which they give me ice for my head)

I started taking a statin. The lowest I could get my liver enzymes down to was a 38., normal is 36. It's been as high as 44. I made the mistake of telling my onc that I had infectious hepatitis in high school., hence the liver ultrasound yesterday. And more blood draws to check for Hepatitis B and C.

Thankful I have my hubs to go with me but I feel like a walking zombie getting my blood draws and scans.

The result is always a fatty liver. Watch your diet. I really want to B-slap my oncologist.

Help!


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  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited March 2017

    I've read on here that artichoke, in either food or supplement form, can improve liver function. Best wishes!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2017

    You might want to try warm lemon water first thing in the morning and/or supplementing with Milk Thistle, both are supposed to help cleanse the liver. My BFF (who does not have cancer) has had the full work-up, including a liver MRI, specialty MRI, every blood test under the sun, and a liver biopsy, has quite elevated liver enzymes. Hers seems to be idiopathic, with no discernible cause other than she is an athlete and this can sometimes happen in those who have more muscle development, and exercise vigorously. You may also want to have either a DEXA or a bone scan, and a Vit D test, as elevated liver numbers can also indicate bone disease/Vitamin D deficiency.

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited March 2017

    My liver enzymes went up to over 500 and are still 46, this is well over a year later, but it was due to Epstein Barr Virus............so don´t asume its cáncer just because your liver enzymes are slightly high

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2017

    Thanks everyone. I bought an Artichoke supplement today. SpecialK., I have warm lemon water every morning with my Metamucil. But I have been lax in taking my vitamin D supplements. I'll start taking all my supplements tonight., including my calcium.

    Lily55: It's my Oncologist who brings up the Mets to the liver, not me.

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited March 2017

    I was just trying to let you know that liver numbers can be any number of things but that Oncologists always think cáncer or mets first.......

    Anything going on with the liver is an alert for possible mets.....I have an annual ultra sound of liver and regular blood tests......my numbers were over 500 for many months but they assured me it was the Epstein Barr.......

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  • Scwilly
    Scwilly Member Posts: 489
    edited March 2017

    Pabbie: have you had a CT scan (definitely needs to be with contrast) as that's how my mets were spotted, then confirmed with a biopsy. Also which test do you mean for liver enzyme as I have a few different tests done. My levels went v high when I was DX in Oct last year. They are now back to normal as I continue treatment. Hoping it's not mets - which seems to be what your MO is looking for. If you are so close in levels and you have come down without tx for mets, to me it doesn't look like mets. Have you been seen by ano specialist outside of Oncology? I wish you all the best.

    Sarah


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  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 5,972
    edited March 2017

    my liver mets showed up,in a ct scan of abdomin after i complained of stomach pain, i thought it was just diverticulitis but not

    Liver was ordered to confirm what tummy doc said

    Good luck

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2017

    The Alanine Aminotransfer (ALT) is what my onc looks at.

    Numbers from 2014 to now: 44, 27, 44, 32, 31 32, *47, 38, 42.

    I believe 36 and below is what they consider normal range.

    The Ultrasound tech told me he didn't see anything suspicious on my liver. And my oncologist's assistant called me yesterday with the results: I have a fatty liver. Watch my diet. *when I went from 47 to 38, this was controlled by my diet. I cut out fatty/high cholesterol foods like ice cream and started taking a Statin......it can be controlled by diet, but the diet is super strict......

    Thank you all for caring. :)

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  • Scwilly
    Scwilly Member Posts: 489
    edited March 2017

    For Kaiser Permanente the normal range is <= 54, and that seems to be roundabout what Dr Google says (I don't normally refer to that Doc but I'd thought I'd check :) ) Mine got up to 75 last year. Yours would be considered in normal range for my provider

    Sarah


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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2017

    I'm with Kaiser Health too. I'm not going to try and figure it out. It consumed my entire week. My therapist gave me some good words of wisdom this week: Practice Mindfulness. Find ways to live in the moment. Anxiety has us living in the future and depression in the past. Attached is a beautiful photo I took while walking with my husband. Wishing you peace.

    image

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2017

    Hi everyone. :)

    Just a follow-up from my original question. I bought an Artichoke supplement which I started taking for a few days now with no problems. I also re-started my Vitamin D, Calcium, and Magnesium. Thank you for reminding me about bone health. One year, I was low on my vitamin D, so I started to take more IU's. And Magnesium helps with Migraines/headaches, and leg cramps. It's a natural muscle relaxer.

    Take care to all.

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2017

    Tests for Hepatitis B and C are negative.

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