elevated liver levels

alexinlv
alexinlv Member Posts: 194 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband went to see his onc today for the first appt since finishing chemo 3 months ago. Without going on about how the doctor was in such a hurry and how disturbed we were about his manner, which was unusual compared to other appts, the nurse did call tonight saying his cea was good (hurray!) but his liver numbers were high. Since I did not talk to her, he did, I do not know anything else but that the doctor wants to do a scan.
I have received so much info from my colon cancer online family that has helped me help him, so any input regarding this is greatly appreciated! You are all amazing people and I am happy to have this support. My husband is very down... he is thinking the worst case scenario. Blessings, Alex

Comments

  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #2
    your doctor's visit
    Sounds like your onc was preoccupied, hopefully not with a patient having a very hard time. I always worry about my onc when he looks tired. Anyhow... at least your doc is keeping on top of his liver enzyme levels. Not sure what can cause it, but with him wanting a scan, my guess is he's wanting to rule out spread. I would think chemo has a way of messing up your liver enzymes and it might take a while for them to settle back in. Perhaps somebody with experience with this will chime in soon.
    mary
  • alexinlv
    alexinlv Member Posts: 194 Member
    #3
    msccolon said:

    your doctor's visit
    Sounds like your onc was preoccupied, hopefully not with a patient having a very hard time. I always worry about my onc when he looks tired. Anyhow... at least your doc is keeping on top of his liver enzyme levels. Not sure what can cause it, but with him wanting a scan, my guess is he's wanting to rule out spread. I would think chemo has a way of messing up your liver enzymes and it might take a while for them to settle back in. Perhaps somebody with experience with this will chime in soon.
    mary

    Oh, thank you for the reply.
    Oh, thank you for the reply. I told my husband I thought chemo could mess up your liver enzymes too. I am amazed by the strength of everyone on this board, as I am a caregiver, not a patient, and I can't stop thinking about cancer! How to get through the day?! "What if, what if, what if?" Any ideas for getting your mind off of it?
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #4
    alexinlv said:

    Oh, thank you for the reply.
    Oh, thank you for the reply. I told my husband I thought chemo could mess up your liver enzymes too. I am amazed by the strength of everyone on this board, as I am a caregiver, not a patient, and I can't stop thinking about cancer! How to get through the day?! "What if, what if, what if?" Any ideas for getting your mind off of it?

    getting your mind off it
    if you come up with something, let me in on it! I've been in the fight for almost 6 years now, and very few days go by that i don't think about it! I think the what ifs become a part of our lives, we just have to live the best we can despite the cancer and just keep moving forward!
    mary
  • Sonia32
    Sonia32 Member Posts: 1,071 Member
    #5
    msccolon said:

    your doctor's visit
    Sounds like your onc was preoccupied, hopefully not with a patient having a very hard time. I always worry about my onc when he looks tired. Anyhow... at least your doc is keeping on top of his liver enzyme levels. Not sure what can cause it, but with him wanting a scan, my guess is he's wanting to rule out spread. I would think chemo has a way of messing up your liver enzymes and it might take a while for them to settle back in. Perhaps somebody with experience with this will chime in soon.
    mary

    Lol hehe you beat me to posting Mary
    Has your husband been ill since his chemo with a virus?, been on antibiotics, does your husband drink, as well as the chemo these can causes elevated liver results. I had the same problem a few months back my doctor got intouch with my onc who wasn't to worried as the results were the same as they were in December. They decided to check my levels again in a month, by then I decided to detox my liver, and started on herbal tablets as well. And my levels were back to normal within a month, apart from the GA, but that was due to my alcahol intake. Has your husband been told how high his numbers are? have they been compared to previous results? I know it's sooo easy to say this, but please try not to worry, hopefully it's just the after effects from the chemo.
    Hopefully others will chime in to... uncle Phil, uncle John? lol

    Praying for good results for your husband from the scan.
  • alexinlv
    alexinlv Member Posts: 194 Member
    #6
    Sonia32 said:

    Lol hehe you beat me to posting Mary
    Has your husband been ill since his chemo with a virus?, been on antibiotics, does your husband drink, as well as the chemo these can causes elevated liver results. I had the same problem a few months back my doctor got intouch with my onc who wasn't to worried as the results were the same as they were in December. They decided to check my levels again in a month, by then I decided to detox my liver, and started on herbal tablets as well. And my levels were back to normal within a month, apart from the GA, but that was due to my alcahol intake. Has your husband been told how high his numbers are? have they been compared to previous results? I know it's sooo easy to say this, but please try not to worry, hopefully it's just the after effects from the chemo.
    Hopefully others will chime in to... uncle Phil, uncle John? lol

    Praying for good results for your husband from the scan.

    He has not been ill or on
    He has not been ill or on antibiotics. He rarely drinks! If anything, I should take a clue and do a detox myself! I am going to have him get the numbers on the counts today. Thank you!! Alex
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #7
    Chemo
    Chemo does a terrible thing to the body. My levels were way over normal while on chemo and even after and one of my doctors told me "the body just doesn't like chemo and it affects every part of it." It's been about 8 months out for me and my levels are just coming down, but all my levels of things are all out of place. Think it depends on the chemo you are given too. They just want to keep an eye on things which is good.

    Kim
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    #8
    Alex
    My liver enzymes have all been high ever since I started chemo. I have not had chemo since November 2009 and they are still elevated (especially the alkaline phosphatase). I have had good scans the whole time I have had those high numbers. My doctor was keeping me on steroids in hopes of bringing them down and I also take Ursodiol and Rampfin. She finally let me quit the steroids as I hated those and hopefully my bloodwork will be good next week that she won't put me back on them. So elevated liver enzymes can simply be from the treatments your husband has had.

    Best wishes,
    Amy
  • alexinlv
    alexinlv Member Posts: 194 Member
    #9
    mom_2_3 said:

    Alex
    My liver enzymes have all been high ever since I started chemo. I have not had chemo since November 2009 and they are still elevated (especially the alkaline phosphatase). I have had good scans the whole time I have had those high numbers. My doctor was keeping me on steroids in hopes of bringing them down and I also take Ursodiol and Rampfin. She finally let me quit the steroids as I hated those and hopefully my bloodwork will be good next week that she won't put me back on them. So elevated liver enzymes can simply be from the treatments your husband has had.

    Best wishes,
    Amy

    Thanks guys! I appreciate
    Thanks guys! I appreciate the info. That's what Iwas thinking and it is good that the doctor is keeping an eye on things.

    Have you ever heard of the neuropathy coming on after chemo and getting progressively worse? The doctor was dumbfounded that my hsusband's neuropathy is getting worse 3 months out and came on strong only after he finished chemo. Well, the doctor actually said, "maybe you have carpal tunnel syndrome." And he wants to send him to a neurologist. Don't know what to think about that?! I swear, doctors should read these discussion boards, maybe they would learn something. It just makes sense to me that neuropathy could come on any time after putting that poison in your body.

    Alex
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #10
    Acid Reflux Med Side Effect
    I have 2 friends whose liver counts elevated taking Nexium and one of those other Gert/Acid Reflux meds.

    Both decided to lose weight and adjust their diets instead of take the meds.

    Not sure if your hubby takes them but just in case................

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