Postby gfpiv » Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:03 pm
I had the same issue - mild jaundice, and pruritis (which was worse during the night). It was due to elevated levels of bilirubin in my blood; at one point my TBIL reached 14 ( 1.0 or less is normal). It can be caused by the liver being taxed in many cases (e.g. due to disease, blockage, or many txs of chemo), but in my particular case I was "lucky" that it turned out to be an obstruction in my bile ducts. I had a radiological expert at MSKCC put in a stent and it worked wonders for me...although I had other non-expert docs look at my scan and not see the blockage first. It did take over a month afterwards til my tbil went back down to normal and all the itching subsided, but in my case, my color came back relatively quick.
I wish you good luck in dealing with this, I know how frustrating it can be. My itching was never controlled with meds, but I believe some docs feel naltrexone may help.
Chip
DX stage IV CC Jan '10, numerous unresectable liver mets
FOLFOX + Avastin Feb-Jul '10
Colon resection, HAI install Aug '10
Systemic FOLFIRI and hepatic FUDR Dec'10-May'12
Chemo break May'12-pres (tumors calcified & stable, knock on wood)
Billiary bypass surgery and SBRT on pesky liver met in 2015