Is this liver mets?

I am currently on taxol/herceptin and concerned about possible liver mets. My onc does want to do scans. I have been experiencing occassional stomach pain high on my right side, sometimes stabbing. I noticed it after the last two infusions and sometimes after eating. Also my liver function tests are high and taxol was reduced on 2 occassions but they continue to be high. My onc tells me the liver function tests show that taxol is contibuting to the high counts.
Does anyone know what Alkaline Phosphatese, Transaminase-SGPT, Transaminase-SGOT represent? Anyone else experiencing pain?
THanks for your help
Rocky

I ment to say in my previous post that my onc DOES NOT want to do scans

[Barbara]

Rocky:

When I was on Nuelasta and Taxol my alkaline Phosphatase, SGPT and SGOT plus my CA 27-29 all went up well out of the normal range. My oncologist was concerned about mets and ran a bone scan, a PET scan, etc. It turned out that I was having a reaction to the Nuelasta and no mets were present. Approximately 17-22% of patients will have the elevated Alkaline Phosphatase and liver enzymes (SGPT and SGOT) according to a study published a year ago. I really appreciated my oncologist doing the scans as it made be feel better emotionaly until all my levels returned to normal about six weeks after my last Taxol treatment and Nuelasta injection.

Barb

[lexigirl]

Rocky,

Especially if you are noticing the pains after you eat, you may want the Dr to check for gall stones.

Prior to my diagnosis I was having pains in my right rib cage area. After I was diagnosed w/ BC I was sure that it had spread to my ribs. The scans showed that I have 3 little stones in my gall bladder. Occasionally I do still have aching on my right side, but feel pretty confident that it's the gall stones.

I hope you feel better and have a good weekend.

Love,
Lexi

[Lolly]

I've had problems with off and on pain and tenderness in the very same area since first diagnosis in '99. Nothing has ever shown in repeated scans/ultrasounds/blood work to indicate liver involvement and we've come to the conclusion it's either gall stones which we can't "find" or even more possibly gallbladder inflamation.
But, you can't ever ignore pain there, so keep complaining and pushing for a scan to at least put your mind at rest.

<3 Lolly

[Lisa]

It could be liver mets, and it might not be. How's that for help?


I have liver mets and do have pain where you described. Another pain place is in my back on the right side.

I can't imagine why your onc doesn't want to do scans. March right in there and say, "When can we schedule my scans?" He/she should have a very good reason NOT to do them. Remember, you're a part of this team--the most important part. It is YOUR body and your life.

Love and light,

Lisa

[Becky]

I agree with Lisa but I will say, I had pain in the right rib area too. I couldn't tell if it was my last rib (on the right side) or if it was underneath that rib. It would feel like I did a couple of sit ups too many and would bother me more if I slouched on that side. My onco did a bone scan and a full CT scan (chest, abdomen and pelvis) and there was nothing there (the whole time my bloodwork was fine). Conclusion - maybe gallstones or gall bladder inflamation or bone pain (probably from radiation scatter as I am a "righty").


I hate when I sometimes feel that twinge (after 18 months and another year of clean scans) but....

As Lisa said - go and insist on your scans - it will put you at ease.

Have a great weekend

Becky

[AlaskaAngel]

I have the same kind of discomfort as everybody else in this chain, and the MRI scan I had (as well as previous ultrasounds) just says I have "sludge" in the gallbladder and 2 well-documented probable small hemangiomas in the liver that haven't changed in several years. My SGOT/SGPT (also known as ALT and AST) are periodically mildly elevated and occasionally the alkaline phosphatase decides to join them in being elevated. (My docs didn't do the MRI because of the right-sided pain, but because of an increase I had in breast pain.) I'm Stage 1 and had good markers too, but I think if I were a higher stage or if the pain was worse I too would ask for some kind of imaging, even if just abdominal ultrasound. They can DO something about gallbladder problems if they know about them.

A.A.