AFP levels

Paulamed
Paulamed Member Posts: 1
in Liver Cancer #1

My husband was diagnosed with liver cancer in May 2016. He is currently being treated at Lahey Hospital in Boston Ma and has been evaluated through their transplant department. In September he had a chemo immobilization, since then his AFP levels have gone from 2,000 to 10,951 as of yesterday. He has had a bone scan and chest scan both were negative. His doctors are scheduling him for a repeat scan in the next few weeks. They say they have to watch him carefully and continue to scan until they can find the reason his AFP's are so elevated. My husband had colon cancer in 2014, found very early. A colon resection was done, no chemo or radiation needed and has had clear colonoscopies since. This is so hard, we have put his health in the hand of the great doctors of Boston ma and God. 

Comments

  • ncmart4
    ncmart4 Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2017 #2
    Mom's AFP Levels on the rise

    Hi there, today we found out that my mom's AFP levels have risen drastically from 300's to 11,000's. This is a very scary time for us as we have driven to Denver to see a liver specialist. My mom has gone through multiple tests, CT's, MRI's, Ultrasounds...and doctors cannot find anything that would be telling of her sudden rise in AFP. Today, her new doctor mentioned this sudden rise could mean liver cancer or cancer has spread to other areas. We are terribly worried about my mom...the doc ordered a CT of the chest and abdomen today...I guess we have to wait and see what they results are tommorrow...

  • Ping2013
    Ping2013 Member Posts: 1
    #3
    Your insight needed

    Dear Paulamed and Ncmart 4,

     

    I just read your postings. It has been a while since January or March. How is your husband or mother doing? Did their AFP get back to normal? My brother has liver cancer. His AFP has gone up from 202 to 317 in three months, while other blood indicators of liver functions improved a bit. Could you please share with me what doctors thought of elevated AFP for your husband or mother? Thank you very much.

    Ping 

  • michael2013
    michael2013 Member Posts: 2
    #4
    sharing some experience from PD-1 treatment

    My Dad was diagnosed as liver cancer Last April and his AFP Level was over 800,000. He had surgery early of May(AFP decreased to 25,000 four weeks postsurgery) and then the cancer came back early of June (AFP significantly increased) and metastasized to lung, spleen and obdominal cavity. He started PD-1 treatment late of June and the AFP decreased after 3 IV infusion (once/2 weeks). His highest AFP level was 68,0000 during the treatment and now AFP is 11.8. Around 6 month treatment, He feels good as before. CT and MRI scan in Nov, the tumor shrink more than 50%. We are expecting the AFP can drop to normal level in one or two months. His body weight increased 15pounds. Hopefully this information will help. 

     

    MIchael

  • lynn444r
    lynn444r Member Posts: 1
    #5
    michael2013 said:

    sharing some experience from PD-1 treatment

    My Dad was diagnosed as liver cancer Last April and his AFP Level was over 800,000. He had surgery early of May(AFP decreased to 25,000 four weeks postsurgery) and then the cancer came back early of June (AFP significantly increased) and metastasized to lung, spleen and obdominal cavity. He started PD-1 treatment late of June and the AFP decreased after 3 IV infusion (once/2 weeks). His highest AFP level was 68,0000 during the treatment and now AFP is 11.8. Around 6 month treatment, He feels good as before. CT and MRI scan in Nov, the tumor shrink more than 50%. We are expecting the AFP can drop to normal level in one or two months. His body weight increased 15pounds. Hopefully this information will help. 

     

    MIchael

    liver cancer

    HI my name is Lynn. My husband was dianosed with HCC liver cancer December 2017. Was your father not able to have a liver transplant? That is just one of many questions but we have appointments today. Hope to here from you. Thank you for your time.

  • Jboz2107
    Jboz2107 Member Posts: 2
    #6
    immunotherapy

    My husband was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with HCC liver cancer. He had a couple of imbolizations and put on Liver transplant list. We went to Mayo clinic in Florida for his transplant but AFP results went over 1000 .  Mayo clinic did a Y90 treatment { radioactive liver treatment and we were sent home to wait for results. They showed no improvement at all  He has had about 7 imbolizations since being diagnosed and AFP results keep rising. About 6000 last checked. Now going for immunotherapy, Nexavar which he has not started.  Wondering if anyone has tried this medication. It list so many side effects. 

    Does anyone have any expirience with this medication? Husband has been taken off transplant list. He has no apparent symtoms but liver tumors keep popping up. 

     

  • kim2018
    kim2018 Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2018 #7
    michael2013 said:

    sharing some experience from PD-1 treatment

    My Dad was diagnosed as liver cancer Last April and his AFP Level was over 800,000. He had surgery early of May(AFP decreased to 25,000 four weeks postsurgery) and then the cancer came back early of June (AFP significantly increased) and metastasized to lung, spleen and obdominal cavity. He started PD-1 treatment late of June and the AFP decreased after 3 IV infusion (once/2 weeks). His highest AFP level was 68,0000 during the treatment and now AFP is 11.8. Around 6 month treatment, He feels good as before. CT and MRI scan in Nov, the tumor shrink more than 50%. We are expecting the AFP can drop to normal level in one or two months. His body weight increased 15pounds. Hopefully this information will help. 

     

    MIchael

    sharing some experience from PD-1 treatment

    Hi Michael,

    My husband was diagnosed as HCC in November 2016 and he is under immunotherapy treatment.  What is PD-1 treatment that your dad is doing?

    Kim

  • aks3574
    aks3574 Member Posts: 10
    #8
    Jboz2107 said:

    immunotherapy

    My husband was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with HCC liver cancer. He had a couple of imbolizations and put on Liver transplant list. We went to Mayo clinic in Florida for his transplant but AFP results went over 1000 .  Mayo clinic did a Y90 treatment { radioactive liver treatment and we were sent home to wait for results. They showed no improvement at all  He has had about 7 imbolizations since being diagnosed and AFP results keep rising. About 6000 last checked. Now going for immunotherapy, Nexavar which he has not started.  Wondering if anyone has tried this medication. It list so many side effects. 

    Does anyone have any expirience with this medication? Husband has been taken off transplant list. He has no apparent symtoms but liver tumors keep popping up. 

     

    ask Dr about Opdivo  - it

    ask Dr about Opdivo  - it used to be a trial med and is now approved by FDA so insurance will pay.

    It works with your immunity. My Mom was having some good results and her AFP was going down with that.

    Nexavar is an option too - some people may have side affects. My Mom too nexvar first and then started on Opdivo.

  • michael2013
    michael2013 Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2018 #9
    michael2013 said:

    sharing some experience from PD-1 treatment

    My Dad was diagnosed as liver cancer Last April and his AFP Level was over 800,000. He had surgery early of May(AFP decreased to 25,000 four weeks postsurgery) and then the cancer came back early of June (AFP significantly increased) and metastasized to lung, spleen and obdominal cavity. He started PD-1 treatment late of June and the AFP decreased after 3 IV infusion (once/2 weeks). His highest AFP level was 68,0000 during the treatment and now AFP is 11.8. Around 6 month treatment, He feels good as before. CT and MRI scan in Nov, the tumor shrink more than 50%. We are expecting the AFP can drop to normal level in one or two months. His body weight increased 15pounds. Hopefully this information will help. 

     

    MIchael

    Hi, All,

    Hi, All,

    My Dad is using OPdivo(Nivolumab) which was approved for liver cancer treatment by FDA september 22, 2017. My Dad can not do transplatation because he already has tumor metastases in different organs. His last blood test for AFP is 9ng/ml. I expect the AFP drop to normal range next time. Thanks.

     

    Michael

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