ELEVATED AMYLASE AND LIPASE

FRANTIC
FRANTIC Member Posts: 106
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello everyone, Frantic here again. Even though I do not post I do read the messages as you all are the best. I have been doing fairly well. Brief hx. (Although I am never brief). Ca/colon Aug.2003, Locally advanced stage 4, 8/20 lymph nodes positive. Had complications after surgey. The rest of my story is posted on the personal web page. As I do not want to bore you. My last pet scan was Jan. 2006 which was negative. I still receive transfusions every 6 weeks for this myloid dysplasia syndrome which developed in the bone marrow possibly from the radiation to the pelvis. I am transfusion dependent. I was started on this new drug called EX-JAde as its purpose is to take the iron out of the body. It was just approved by the FDA in Jan.2006. I have to dissolve 3 tablets in 7oz.juice every AM and drink it on an empty stomach. I began this May 6,2006 and stopped the drug June 1, 2006. I was tolerating the drug very well. On May 30th I developed violent stomach pains near the navel and the illeostomy expelled alot of diarrhea. My stomach has not been the same. Since then many blood tests were performed. One test which they do not normally do is the amylase and lipase which are digetive enzymes from the pancreas. The labs came back extremely high. I still have diarrhea.
The sonogram of the liver and gall bladder was normal. My oncoligist has ordered an MRI of the liver and pancreas. That is scheduled for June 28th. MY CEA is still normal at 0.7. However the CA19.9 which is another tumor marker is elevated at 65. I have no jaundice and not much pain. I also have a petscan scheduled for July 3rd. Here we go with the waiting game. And all of you know out there the anxieties of waiting for these tests and their results. I am literally panicking and thinking that the adenocarcinoma has come back and is blocking the bile ducts. I am scared to death. I am a mystery to the DRs. My oncoligist states "Can't be that you have a triple whammy", colon cancer,myloid dysplasia and pancreatic cancer?. Has anybody out there experienced pancreatitis or had mets. My liver enzymes has been slightly elevated and my oncoligist contributes that to the iron overload.
Any help and comfort would be appreciated. Your FRANTIC friend from Long Island (Fran)

Comments

  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #2
    Frantic I have not had anything that you are going thru but I wanted to say that you sound amazing and you have a great attitude. I'll be praying for you that all goes well.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
    Fran,
    Hey, I can empathize with the 3 strikes...had a scare this week that my hip pain was crc met to the bone...sigh....that would be crc, breast, and crc met...
    BUT, it turned out not to be...
    The ONLY reason I mention this is that I know about waiting and wondering....I have a fantastic rad/onc that followed thru...
    My question...do you trust your treating docs??? Should you ask for a second opinion (even just for the path/scan reports???)
    I'm not going to hog any more space...lots of people will respond with more experience (sigh) with liver mets...
    BIG HUGS is all I can offer....
    Hugs, Kathi
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #4
    Dear Fran -

    I am so sorry you are having to go through this scare. I have Stage IV colorectal with mets to the liver - currently NED. I don't know much about the liklihood of pancreatic disease but I do know that the waiting is really terrible and I will be thinking of you on June 28 and again on July 3. I'm sorry you can't have both the MRI and PET on the same day rather than having to prolong the anxiety.

    Good luck and take care. Hopefully someone else here has experience with pancreatic issues.

    Betsy
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #5
    The waiting is terribe-we all sympathize with that. Is it possible that the pancreatitis is from the EX-Jade? Did your doctors have any information about that? Will try to look it up and post further.

    ****
  • HowardJ
    HowardJ Member Posts: 474
    #6
    I agree with **** (vinny3) and wonder if the pancreatitis might be from the new med--there seems to be a temporal relationship. You're doing the right thing getting it checked and having the CT.
  • FRANTIC
    FRANTIC Member Posts: 106
    #7
    HowardJ said:

    I agree with **** (vinny3) and wonder if the pancreatitis might be from the new med--there seems to be a temporal relationship. You're doing the right thing getting it checked and having the CT.

    Thanks Howard. It is unknown at this time what caused this elevation in amylase and lipase. It is not normally a blood test they usually run. I work in a local hospital and I was admiitted for diziness and near collapse. My face became sweaty and clammy. I was admitted for 2 nites and just kept with IV's. At that time the amylase and lipase came to normal levels. 1 week later and retested it is now 3 times the amt. I wrote to Vinny and I did report it to the company. They will send it to the FDA. It is still unknown at this time what caused this. And being at a high risk for the colon cancer that could be suspected as a return. I hope to God not. The Ex-Jade has side effects and liver,kidney functions must be tested. Also there has been some reports of hearing loss and visual problems, dizziness . It is unknown at this time about the pancreas. The company will not release that information. I lookfor this network as you people are more knowledgeable thn the DRs. Thanks for the help.
    Fran from Long Island

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