LFT for advanced PCa

Enhanced AST
Hi there,

A raised AST level can indicate all sorts of things, really it is a flag that an experienced medical practitioner should use to order further tests, I doubt that anyone would try and make a firm diagnosis on the basis of that alone. I suppose that it could indicate metastases to the liver, but they are a long way down the list of possible reasons.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/aspartate_aminotransferse-test#1

Best wishes,

Georges

Alkaline phosphatase and calcium
Hi there,

An elevated calcium and alkaline phosphatase level is indicative of bone metastases, but this is a pretty crude test, if you have a couple of small ones then they could be normal.
I find that my doctors are very amenable to reasonable requests as long as they have some supporting evidence.
https://www.rogelcancercenter.org/bone-metastasis/diagnosis

Best wishes,

Georges

I sense anxiety

FF,

In another thread of yours you were concerned with the possibility in having PCa recurrence due to high triglycerides levels in spite of having an undetectable PSA. Here you go further by thinking that your high ALT is indicative of PCa metastases in liver. I think that you are allowing your mind mimicking causes to justified the PSA as faked  and are blaming the statins as the culprit for the good results.

You need to trust the PSA results and follow the opinions of your oncologist/surgeon. After all, PCa metastases wherever they are located produce PSA serum that would increase with growing spreading tumors.

High levels of liver blood markers can be related to many causes in substances metabolism or due to the lack of proper functioning of other organs, particularly the kidneys. You can order an LFT blood panel, together with other blood tests repeating the PSA, the Testosterone and T4, and check the kidneys (24hours urine test), if that gives you peace of mind. 

Your signs of fragility may derive from your experience with the cancer case of your daughter. In your “about me" page you commented to have experienced  “sissy cancer”. The  situation is different. Get the strength to overcome this moment of anxiety. 

Best wishes.

VGama

 

 

Anxious

Hi Fleet Foot,

You didn't say what your present PSA was or your present condition, but if your PSA is over .2, you could look into getting a PSMA PET scan.  This sensitive scan can pick up prostate cancer anywhere in the body even at low PSA levels.  At the present time, this test has only been FDA approved in California at UCLA and UCSF.  There are other sites in the USA that you can explore that are being done as part of a study.  I believe that UCLA and UCSF will accept Medicare and it's possible other sites may as well.  PSMA scans have been in use in Europe and other countries for several years.  See this link for the UCLA site:  https://www.uclahealth.org/psma        Also see:

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-psma-targeted-pet-imaging-drug-men-prostate-cancer

 

In the USA, Axumin scans are apporved, but your PSA needs to be higher (>5) for a reasonable detection rate.  This test is NOT as good as a PSMA scan but is usually covered by insurance.

 

If your PSA is already high and mets in suspected, you could look into a FoundationOne CDx blood test that may be able to locate prostate cancer circulating DNA in your blood.  It would be best to get a genetic test first.  See this link:   https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/recently-approved-devices/foundationone-cdx-p170019s015

Also, see this link for a newer urine test to detect prostate cancer:  https://www.exosomedx.com/

My opinion would be to pursue the PSMA scan first.

 

The best to you...hang in there..

 

 

 

Generality

Fleet,

I will not go through all of the particulars discussed above, but in general, blood panels are not used to diagnose organ cancers.  Blood cancers (lymphoma or leukemia) yes, they have meaningful indicative value.

There is obviously a lot of history and backstory in your case that you have skipped over.  No problem, any question is OK, but you go from some history of PCa straight to possible liver and/or bone metastasis.   That is a HUGE leap.   What stage were you?  What treatments have you had ?  How long ago was your PCa diagnosed ?

AST/ALT can be elevated by many things:  1. alcohol; 2. NASID USE (Advil, Tylenol, Asprin),  3. statin drugs (anti-cholesterol drugs)  4. chemo, and a variety of other things.

You seem defensive on the subject of alcohol, as when stating that the doctor 'thinks I'm an alcoholic.'   Why would he think that ?   My father was one of five brothers.   All five were gifted, hard-working, and three of them became quite rich.    All five died drunk, of liver failure, due to alcoholism.    I know about liver worries.

But, there is absolutley no reason to jump from a little AST elevation to 'metastatic PCa in the liver.'   Certainly not based on the scant factors shared thus far.

A Lipid and Metabolic profile and associated labs is never a bad idea for any person with a history of liver issues.   While not 'cheap,' they are the least expensive tests that we guys routinely have performed here.