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AFP Levels and Cancer
Hi, I've been reading thru all these posts and its nice to get so much information. However, I really haven't seen much on elevated AFP levels. My brother was recently diagnosed with Hep C, was going to have an EDG done, but dr decided that he needed the acites off his abdomen first. They drained 11 liters. Ungodly amount....I'm also not sure what other lab test results were, but I do know his AFP level was 11,960 ng. I know that doesn't sound good at all as its a tumor marker and normal levels are 500 ng. Any information anyone who knows this would be greatly appreciated. We are quite worried. Thanks!
there is a website in which you can post a question and get a response from a Dr that is very knowledgeable in HCV..
Do a google for HCV in Prison, and go to Dr Ben Cecil's forum..
Or just do a google on Dr. Ben Cecil.
Sounds to me that your brother is near End stage liver disease, and close to the need for a transplant. There are members here who have undergone treatment at the same stage your brother is in, cured, and lived a normal life. Get more opinions from other Dr's, never settle for just one!
Do a google for HCV in Prison, and go to Dr Ben Cecil's forum..
Or just do a google on Dr. Ben Cecil.
Sounds to me that your brother is near End stage liver disease, and close to the need for a transplant. There are members here who have undergone treatment at the same stage your brother is in, cured, and lived a normal life. Get more opinions from other Dr's, never settle for just one!
My brother had a CT scan, that showed nothing. Wednesday I took him in to see his Dr., and the MRI report showed no cancer. He did say that he has advanced cirrhosis, and they did some banding in his esophagus. I haven't seen the most recent lab results yet. The Dr. is somewhat frustrated with the high AFP level tho he said that there may be a cancer too small to see. This is so frustrating. I wish he didn't live so far away. He also said that if the numbers were to go down that that would be good. The hep C can't be treated because of the advanced liver disease. He mentioned a shunt for portal hypertension. He goes back next week for a follow up and I don't know if they're going to do more banding or what they're going to do. If anyone has anything to add, please do. I'm trying to find out what I can for him. Thanks so much.
YA YOUR RIGHT WE DO FEEL LOUSY AND THAT IS ONE SIDE EFFECT I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY WE REFER TO IT AS "TOXIC"? IS IT "TOXIC"? IS THAT A GOOD THING???
The short and no doubt oversimplified explanation is that it's the chemical that signals an infection somewhere in the body. It mobilizes the immunity response. The symptoms we feel are roughly those that accompany viral infections.
For whatever reason, HCV doesn't stimulate a strong enough reaction to get rid of it. My dr said that we make a trillion copies per day and each one lasts about a half hour before
the body kills it. So even without drugs there's an energetic fight going on. The interferon lets us get the upper hand.
Remember that interferon alone leads to SVR in 25% of patients.
I'm astonished at the tiny amount that is used. a grain. of table salt weighs about 100 micrograms.
For whatever reason, HCV doesn't stimulate a strong enough reaction to get rid of it. My dr said that we make a trillion copies per day and each one lasts about a half hour before
the body kills it. So even without drugs there's an energetic fight going on. The interferon lets us get the upper hand.
Remember that interferon alone leads to SVR in 25% of patients.
I'm astonished at the tiny amount that is used. a grain. of table salt weighs about 100 micrograms.
I don't know why we feel lousy. It's a side effect. Other drugs make you feel bad too while the therapeutic effect is at work.
OKAY. SO INTERFERON HELPS THE BODY FIGHT THE HCV. NOW, WHY IS IT TOXIC TO US? IS IT CAUSE NOW THAT WE'RE ON INTERFERON, WE ARE FEELING THE FULL EFFECTS OF HCV? I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND IGNORANT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IF IT'S GOOD TO PUT INTERFERON IN US TO FIGHT THE INFECTION THEN WHY ARE WE SICK WHILE ON INTERFERON/RIBAVIRIN? WHY TOXIC TO US?
Here goes a guess. Fever is a natural phenomenon of the body also and it isn't fun, but the high temp kills the bad guys, at the same time it makes you sleepy so that your body rests while the army is doing battle. I would think that interferon is working in the same way and since it it fighting such a mean virus, it has to work harder and longer. Same way when we get a flu virus and it knot out out -- it is our natural body forces going into action to do battle that causes us to hurt so much. Just my logic.
Pirategold
Pirategold
HELLO EVERYONE. I HAVE A QUESTION THAT NEEDS ANSWERING. IF INTERFERON IS SOMETHING THAT THE BODY NATURALLY PRODUCES, WHY IS IT REFERRED AS BEING 'TOXIN'? I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING THAT IS NATURALLY PRODUCED BY THE BODY CAN MAKE US SOOO SICK? CAN SOMEONE ANSWER THAT FOR ME, PLEASE. HOW IS IT TOXIC?
I don't post often but am a daily reader, almost. I am sorry to hear about the state of your brother and his ascite condition. I've personally seen drainage performed and 11 meters is hell of alot fluid. And, yes, Alfa Feta Protein (AFP) is a tumor marker, among others.
Regarding his AFP score, 11,000 is extremely high. But I dont follow the 500 ng being normal. My AFP test range is 0-15 ng/ml, where 15 is the high water mark. I had a transplant at 459.2 ng/ml due to 2.1 cm hyperdense lesion in the periphery of the medial segment of the left lobe. This was found by undergoing a CT Scan with Contrast.
I suggest you do the following:
1) Ask the doctor for a copy of your bothers lab work and repost the liver panel findings here with their "ranges", and any out of the ordinary scores too - AST, ALT, Alkaline Phosphatase, total bilirubin and AFP. Ranges are listed next to the test results.
2) Ask the doctor if a CT Scan with Contrast has been scheduled. This will identify any lesions on the liver. You must have the contrast. A standard non-contrast scan will not show any lesions or scaring (cirrohsis). Due to his ascites this may not get performed but I have seen patients wheeled out to scan directly after drainage. Talk with his doctor.
3) Ask the doctor if a liver biopsy has been scheduled with pathology. This will tell you the livers state of health.
Another forum you should visit is
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=liverfailure&nav=messages&prettyurl=%2Fliverfailure%2Fmessages
Sorry for the long URL but tinyurl.com doesn't always keep the converted URL's after a day or two. Post to IMKINDLY. She is a wiz and super knowledgeable when it comes to liver deseases.
I hope this helps.
Regarding his AFP score, 11,000 is extremely high. But I dont follow the 500 ng being normal. My AFP test range is 0-15 ng/ml, where 15 is the high water mark. I had a transplant at 459.2 ng/ml due to 2.1 cm hyperdense lesion in the periphery of the medial segment of the left lobe. This was found by undergoing a CT Scan with Contrast.
I suggest you do the following:
1) Ask the doctor for a copy of your bothers lab work and repost the liver panel findings here with their "ranges", and any out of the ordinary scores too - AST, ALT, Alkaline Phosphatase, total bilirubin and AFP. Ranges are listed next to the test results.
2) Ask the doctor if a CT Scan with Contrast has been scheduled. This will identify any lesions on the liver. You must have the contrast. A standard non-contrast scan will not show any lesions or scaring (cirrohsis). Due to his ascites this may not get performed but I have seen patients wheeled out to scan directly after drainage. Talk with his doctor.
3) Ask the doctor if a liver biopsy has been scheduled with pathology. This will tell you the livers state of health.
Another forum you should visit is
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=liverfailure&nav=messages&prettyurl=%2Fliverfailure%2Fmessages
Sorry for the long URL but tinyurl.com doesn't always keep the converted URL's after a day or two. Post to IMKINDLY. She is a wiz and super knowledgeable when it comes to liver deseases.
I hope this helps.
HI, some will know where to go to get this answer, I seen it once and wrote down out of curiosity, AND it says alpha fetaprotein if elevated is cancer. Now I only read that on test results somewhere BUT MDS are the answer for that one. so ask YOUR MD is the one to ask!!! I wish you blessings and hope you find out what you want to know. Dont rush to answers with negativity , I dont think thats good, think positive and definatly talk to MD. Thaes folks are pretty smart and I am blowed awy by their noggins.Some one will respond and know more!! Aubbie
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