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What a AFP marker test means?
I just got a lab test back for an AFP tumor marker which said it was 5.3 and in the standard range. What is that for?
In addition to the AFP and AFPL3% tests, tuere's also another newer tumor marker test that I am trying to find additional information about. It's called Pivka II. Has anyone else had this test done or know anything about it? I am specifically interested in this test Post Transplant. Thanks in advance.
Thanks for that website.....hrsepwrguy....
About 6 months ago they said they saw a marker that would indicate pancreatic cancer. I said great...isn't an over the top HCV viral load plus a decompensated liver, chronic liver disease and being Stage 4 ESLD enough already? Not to mention being 66. I can only juggle so many balls at one time. Good grief.
They retested me and said it must have been a fluke because they didn't see anything else but they would keep an eye on it. But I did learn some stuff in between that time. One...cut out the carbonated beverages.....read several articles and they indicated the carbonation could create gallstones....there are two types of gallstones...most people don't know this....when you have liver disease their is a specific category of gallstones. One organ feeds into another, etc., etc....so I've been trying to cut out all the carbonation and it is hard...I am a cola freak....it's the one thing I have an extremely hard time getting away from.
But my daughter pointed out and correctly so..".I think your more addicted to the carbonation than the cola". She kind of noticed this when she got a soda stream and I was carbonating everything. So ...she hid the soda stream and.now I'm doing tea, water, water, water and juices I make from fresh fruit and vegetables....grrr.....want a cola right now....LOL.
Hopefully your marker will not be significant....will keep my fingers crossed. I know if they had told me I had pancreatic cancer I would have just probably folded up my tent and head for the islands.
About 6 months ago they said they saw a marker that would indicate pancreatic cancer. I said great...isn't an over the top HCV viral load plus a decompensated liver, chronic liver disease and being Stage 4 ESLD enough already? Not to mention being 66. I can only juggle so many balls at one time. Good grief.
They retested me and said it must have been a fluke because they didn't see anything else but they would keep an eye on it. But I did learn some stuff in between that time. One...cut out the carbonated beverages.....read several articles and they indicated the carbonation could create gallstones....there are two types of gallstones...most people don't know this....when you have liver disease their is a specific category of gallstones. One organ feeds into another, etc., etc....so I've been trying to cut out all the carbonation and it is hard...I am a cola freak....it's the one thing I have an extremely hard time getting away from.
But my daughter pointed out and correctly so..".I think your more addicted to the carbonation than the cola". She kind of noticed this when she got a soda stream and I was carbonating everything. So ...she hid the soda stream and.now I'm doing tea, water, water, water and juices I make from fresh fruit and vegetables....grrr.....want a cola right now....LOL.
Hopefully your marker will not be significant....will keep my fingers crossed. I know if they had told me I had pancreatic cancer I would have just probably folded up my tent and head for the islands.
Thanks for the link, I read it but did not understand it very well. I guess this tells the doc if I might have a tumor or a cancer in the liver. Well mine was 5.
3 in the standard range so I guess thats good. So many of these test are hard for me to read what exactly they mean. I just got a msg. My endoscopy is Thursday at 11:45 AM. I guess he will know if my liver can handle the treatment. He was in and out so fast the other day I did not get alot of specifics but I guess since I am 60 yrs old next month I should go ahead and treat. I am hoping I will find out more this Thurs. Thks for the feedback on here, You all are great, I would be so scared of the unknown if it was not for these forums. IT is so helpful to talk to others that have got this behind them and can help with all the questions that those of us who are starting have!
3 in the standard range so I guess thats good. So many of these test are hard for me to read what exactly they mean. I just got a msg. My endoscopy is Thursday at 11:45 AM. I guess he will know if my liver can handle the treatment. He was in and out so fast the other day I did not get alot of specifics but I guess since I am 60 yrs old next month I should go ahead and treat. I am hoping I will find out more this Thurs. Thks for the feedback on here, You all are great, I would be so scared of the unknown if it was not for these forums. IT is so helpful to talk to others that have got this behind them and can help with all the questions that those of us who are starting have!
AFP Tumor Markers
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
To help diagnose and monitor therapy for certain cancers of the liver, testes, or ovaries
When to Get Tested?
When your doctor suspects that you have certain cancers of the liver, testes, or ovaries; at intervals during and after treatment for one of these cancers; sometimes when you have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
How is it used?
AFP is used as a tumor marker to help detect and diagnose cancers of the liver, testes, and ovaries. Though the test is often ordered to monitor people with chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C because they have an increased lifetime risk of developing liver cancer, most current guidelines do not recommend this use. A doctor may order an AFP test, along with imaging studies, to try to detect liver cancer when it is in its earliest and most treatable stages.
If a person has been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma or another form of AFP-producing cancer, an AFP test may be ordered periodically to help monitor the person's response to therapy and to monitor for cancer recurrence.
An AFP-L3% is sometimes also ordered to compare the amount of the AFP variant called AFP-L3 to the total amount of AFP. The AFP-L3% test is not yet widely used in the U.S. but has gained wider acceptance in other countries such as Japan. The test is used to help evaluate the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in those with chronic liver disease, and also to evaluate response of hepatocellular carcinoma to treatment.
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/afp-tumor/tab/test/
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
To help diagnose and monitor therapy for certain cancers of the liver, testes, or ovaries
When to Get Tested?
When your doctor suspects that you have certain cancers of the liver, testes, or ovaries; at intervals during and after treatment for one of these cancers; sometimes when you have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
How is it used?
AFP is used as a tumor marker to help detect and diagnose cancers of the liver, testes, and ovaries. Though the test is often ordered to monitor people with chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C because they have an increased lifetime risk of developing liver cancer, most current guidelines do not recommend this use. A doctor may order an AFP test, along with imaging studies, to try to detect liver cancer when it is in its earliest and most treatable stages.
If a person has been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma or another form of AFP-producing cancer, an AFP test may be ordered periodically to help monitor the person's response to therapy and to monitor for cancer recurrence.
An AFP-L3% is sometimes also ordered to compare the amount of the AFP variant called AFP-L3 to the total amount of AFP. The AFP-L3% test is not yet widely used in the U.S. but has gained wider acceptance in other countries such as Japan. The test is used to help evaluate the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in those with chronic liver disease, and also to evaluate response of hepatocellular carcinoma to treatment.
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/afp-tumor/tab/test/
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