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al from Canada · 10-06-2005, 09:28 PM

Dear Mary,

Linda has had liver mets for over 18 mos and we can't figure out if we are beating them into remission or not. The intial report said 85% mets, all liver chemistry was through the roof and she was starting to jaundice. We gained at least 10%, so there was 75% active cancer, her counts were dropping and jaundice was gone....all within 8 weeks. That brings us to 16 months where all imaging has shown 75% active cancer despite herceptin, navelbine, xeloda.......go figure but pretty discouraging.

3 days ago she had a PET scan where that may shed some light onto things.

As for the counts, there are 6 we look at and all may get elevated for different reasons. For example; ALK PH. is elevated by other organs including bones; ALK by wine; Bilirubin by biliary blockage, damage or compression and even gall bladder problems; BUT gamma GT is the one most professionals associate directly with liver damage.

They also never draw conclusions by reading these counts in isolation; they look at the interactions between them to zero-in. In other words, one of these markers could elevate X 100 and you could have nothing what-so-ever wrong with your liver. I will post the PET results when I get them.

Take care,
Al

10-06-2005, 09:28 PM	#6
al from Canada Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 722	Dear Mary, Linda has had liver mets for over 18 mos and we can't figure out if we are beating them into remission or not. The intial report said 85% mets, all liver chemistry was through the roof and she was starting to jaundice. We gained at least 10%, so there was 75% active cancer, her counts were dropping and jaundice was gone....all within 8 weeks. That brings us to 16 months where all imaging has shown 75% active cancer despite herceptin, navelbine, xeloda.......go figure but pretty discouraging. 3 days ago she had a PET scan where that may shed some light onto things. As for the counts, there are 6 we look at and all may get elevated for different reasons. For example; ALK PH. is elevated by other organs including bones; ALK by wine; Bilirubin by biliary blockage, damage or compression and even gall bladder problems; BUT gamma GT is the one most professionals associate directly with liver damage. They also never draw conclusions by reading these counts in isolation; they look at the interactions between them to zero-in. In other words, one of these markers could elevate X 100 and you could have nothing what-so-ever wrong with your liver. I will post the PET results when I get them. Take care, Al __________________ Primary care-giver to and advocate for Linda, who passed away April 27, 2006.