Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels

GloriaP

I am currently in remission for large B Cell lymphoma, diagnosed in January 2017, chemo R-CHOP treatments from Feb - May.  My bloodwork from May had my ALP level at 62 and this week's ALP level is at 120.  Still in "normal" range but doubled since May.  I also just finished a round of anti-biotics. How was your ALP after chemo?  Did it climb or stay consistent. Trying not worry. Thank you!

po18guy

Hard to keep up with all the numbers!

I go by the rule: If doctor is not worried, then I am not worried. All bloodwork is a snapshot, and different results would be obtained if you had just eaten, were fasting, or if the sample was taken in the morning or evening. Even a sample taken a few minutes earlier or later would very likely show differing results. Therefore, what doector is looking for is a trend in the blood numbers. The numbers that trend, either up or down, are the ones that are watched. And remember also that in the cancer world, "normal" ranges are out the window. Since our blood and marrow are hammered by treatment, hematologists are not concerned about numbers which would cause our primary physician to hospitalize us.

dana-mihaela

Hi Gloria,

As long as it is in normal range do not worry. This value fluctuates that is what my doctor told me. 

Dana

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

3 of 3

Gloria,

I too agree fully with Dana and Po.  Midway through chemo, my LDH  (Note: NOT 'LDL') was sky high, which my oncologist couldn't figure out. He then told me that drawing an LDH via the port would skew the results, and ordered that it be drawn from an arm.  He did not tell me WHY this was, just that it is a known oddity in some cases.

PSA is a critical marker for prostate cancer, but a man's PSA can go up simply if he has exercised a lot the day before a blood draw, or has sex. So a multitude of things can skew these results.   And Po is spot-on also when he states that chemo and Lymphoma send blood results off the charts. My liver enzymes (ALT, AST) were astronomical throughout chemo, but he never even commented on them.  Any board-certified medical oncologist is certified in internal medicine also, so if it warrents comment, your doctor will comment.

Rest easy, and peace of mind to you,

max

Sandy Ray

ALP up

Mine is up after treatments. Oncologist has not seemed concerned but a lot of my blood work is not showing in normal range since Chemo. I feel good so unless the Oncologist gets concerned at this point I am just enjoying no treatments for now.

Sandy Ray