Blood Test - Liver Function

[LeonW]

Hi Guys,
Have been lurking for a while. Thanks for sharing your experiences and the many heads up. I hope I can ever repay you all.

Am recovering well from IVa treatment / busy regaining ordinary life. Last Op was some 20 months ago. Scans are clear and CEA consistently low (around 1.3). April colonoscopy showed cancer free clean colon!
It was a rough ride getting to where I am today, but it looks I might be one of the lucky ones, at least for the time being.

When discussing the results of the latest blood tests, nothing remarkable was mentioned. All fine.
Got a copy of the lab report though, that shows that some of the indicators for liver function are way (?) off the mark;

Alkaline Phosphatase: result 176 (target is -120 UL)
Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGTP): result 534 (target is 0-55 UL)
ASAT (possibly AST in the US): result 44 (target is 0-35UL)
ALAT (possibly ALT in US): result 50 (target is 0 45 UL)

values for Bilirubine, LD and CRP: OK

Anyone have any experience / can comment on importance of the deviations and how these might be interpreted?
Anything to worry about? Or just confirmation that liver got seriously damaged when its biggest half got removed Oct 2012?

Thanks / best wished from Sunny Holland

Leon

[midlifemom]

Hi, my understanding is that surgery and chemo can throw the liver values off.
You may want to call your onc office about these values BUTT if onc didn't mention it at time of visit he probably isn't concerned.
Good luck!

[Sandy1962]

Hi Leon -
So happy you are NED! I have had the same liver problems. My stage IV cancer went to my liver. About 18 months after surgery my ALT & AST started rising, first in the high 40s then 50s, I had my blood checked every 2-3 months. My CTs always showed fatty liver and my oncologist said that can make my liver function high and I need to eat better. (I am a junk food, fast food bad diet person) My oncologist wasn't concerned and finally when it went into the 80s, I got real concerned. When I called the nurse at my oncologist office she finally said "the doctor said he is not a liver specialist, you need to see your primary doctor". So, I went to my general Dr and now have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and take medicine. Since taking the medicine the past 6-8 weeks my liver function has gone from 81 & 83 to 58 & 55. Maybe this will help you.
Sandy

[Valorie]

Leon - first, congrats on your NED status. That's just awesome to hear. I will give you my two experiences with elevated liver enzymes.

First time I was on Xeloda and had reached the point of toxcicity. After they lowered the dose the numbers went down.

Second time was after chemo. I had hernia surgery in February. I tend to get constipated so I was taking Senna and stool softeners on a daily basis to keep from straining and blowing out my hernia surgery. Guess what - those numbers just zoomed up. When I researched the following site:

(http://livertox.nih.gov/Senna.htm)

it seems that Senna can raise liver enzymes if taken on a continual basis and/or higher doses. Once I quit taking them, the enzyme levels started to reverse. So, if you are taking Senna you might want to see if by deleting it your numbers go down.

Hope this helps.

Val

[vilca11]

My ALP and GGT were in thousands after Nano Knife surgery a year ago, now in hundreds... It is more indicative of the bile obstructions than true functions of liver.... The AST and ALT enzymes are truly reflecting the function. But I have to tell you that while I have been taking Milk Thistle and based on it strong Liver Support mix for 10 years, my liver showing perfect function is almost cirrhotic.... gross steatosis. So, go figure... One connection I do know for sure exists, but doctors dismiss that connection for some reason (I tried to share my experience with them). When my liver is free from cancer, my cholesterols and triglycerides and sugars are always normal. The moment liver goes into "metastatic mode" , all the above goes up significantly (3times the norm). So, for me it is as good indicator as a slight increase in CEA....
Take a look at your values, may be you have that connection too. But I explain your highs (and they are not very high, just above the norm) by ongoing changes in liver after right hepatectomy - it is a very serious surgery and if my functions still did not come down after Nano in a year, yours for sure should still fluctuate.... I would not worry, if I was you, too insignificant if the scans and other blood indicators are fine...
Hugs, Vilca

[Nik Colon]

Here are mine on chemo. I wouldn't worry too much about them but you should ask. The ones over 200 (can't remember but think like 215-275, in that range) were 2 days after chemo. I know that's not great but u can see they went back down, from what I know I believe over 20x is where liver failure comes in. 5-10x bad, 10-20x really bad, over 20x liver failure, but you can look it up and double check as I'm going off memory. So 45x5=225, 50x5=250. So liver failure would be over 1000. Again, just what I think I remember. I can double check

ALT
1/20 - 39
2/3 - 42
2/16 - 111
2/18 - 200+?
3/4 - 56
3/11 - 69
3/26 - 20
(normal 0-50, but was told not to worry until x5)

AST
1/20 - 26
2/3 - 20
2/16 - 75
2/18 - 200+?
3/4 - 48
3/11 - 53
3/26 - 21
(normal 0-45, but was told not to worry until x5)

[LeonW]

Thanks all. I just needed to get the values in perspective. Until I see my team again in October, I'll disregard the alarms /will only start worrying when they shoot up into the ranges that Nik mentions.

Heck, I lost 75% of my liver. Can imagine that the remaining part keeps objecting
I'll let you know the experts opinions once I've seen them in October (am on 6 mos checkup cycle now).

To Val and Vinca:
I'm off all medication now, regaining life, making plans, moving house, preparing for holidays, all OK. Hoping it'll stay that way for a while . . .

Wish all here the same
Cheers, Leon