AFP = 8.9, Preparation for next blood test?

[Chris75]

I took my 6 month blood test and my doctor called and wanted to see me. I'm going in tomorrow afternoon because my AFP came in at 8.9 and I was told it should be under 7.51. I realize from my reading that certain things can cause high AFP levels. Any advice on how to avoid misleading AFP levels? I imagine my doctor will want me to take another blood test. Is 8.9 really high?

Things that I can think of that might elevate AFP.
1. exercise regularly at the gym (lifting weights, spin class)
2. been taking shiitake (100mg) and maitake (100mg) supplement daily and getting fresh shiitake at the grocery store. (one article said certain species of mushrooms can cause elevated AFP levels, but I only read that today)
3. daily greens drink called triple greens for antioxidants
4. occasionally take a protein powder with soy protein (sometimes whey).

Should I stop exercising and taking supplements before my next blood test?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Chris

[IowaBrian]

I would call your doctor's office and ask the nurse to run it by the doctor different thinks can cause a false positive be honest with them as to everything that you are taking or have taken. I sure hope it is a false positive but if it isn't and you need more treatment you will still knock it out.
Good Luck
Brian

[jdunn]

Hi Chris,
Read a post back from June 30th from MaryEllen. Her son Chris experienced a elevated Afp I think it was at 12. A week later it returned to normal.
Hope that helps.
jane

[Scott]

Check out this link. If I were you, I would stop the supplements but keep exercising.

[dadmo]

Chris:
8.9 is high but nothing to panic over, you shouldn't assume cancer until the mid 20s. I would keep exercising but stay away from alcohol for a few days prior to blood work and speak to you doctor about your supplements.

[Fish]

As everyone has said, a single elevated AFP is no cause for panic. These test are not perfect and errors due occur. But you should also take Dadmo's and Scott's advice and avoid any alcohol and supplements prior to your next test.

Good luck.

[Chris75]

Thanks for the feedback.

I just got back from the doctor. He wants me to take another blood test in two weeks and if the AFP level is still high he wants me to get a CT scan. After checking my testicle and doing an ultrasound, everything looked fine, so he doesn't think that's the cause of the elevated AFP. He believes it could be one of two things.

1. The hospital might not be as reliable for testing AFP compared to a lab such as LabCorp or Quest.

2. The Purity Products Triple Greens that I take for antioxidants has several GI enzymes that could alter the AFP tests.

So I basically have to stop taking supplements, like you guys said, and wait for two weeks to take another blood test.

[Chris'Mom]

Chris, my son Chris also had a scare during the summer...he went to a different lab and had a reading of 13!!!!!!! was taking creatine for weight lifting and also protein supplements.....he went off those and had AFP tested and it was 3!!!was it lab error, supplements, not sure....but I am sure you will be okay...keep us posted....Mary Ellen

[poulet69]

Liver abnormality?

When my wife's AFP rose into the high twenties 18 months after high dose chemo, we were told that everyone is different and, in one particular case, a patient had an AFP in the high teens for many years without any sign of the cancer coming back.

Also, to quote a leading tc specialist, "liver abnormalities can cause a rise in AFP and many drugs can cause slight liver abnormalities that could then elevate an AFP in the absence of cancer."

Good luck

[Chris75]

new test afp=4

well i took my blood test again after two weeks of abstaining from supplements. i also went back to the same lab that gave me good test results, instead of the hospital where i got my chest x-ray done on the same day of my afp=8.9 test.

my afp dropped from 8.9 down to 4, so it looks like my greens drink was causing the afp to go up. my doctor thinks its because of the GI enzymes it contains (protease, amylase, lipase, lactase, cellulase, 25mg of each)

i would advise not to take any supplements a couple of weeks before any blood test that checks for tumor markers or at the very least look at the ingredients/nutritional facts. save yourself an unnecessary extra test and more importantly save yourself the anxiety. i hope this information helps someone else in the future.

thanks for those who responded with their expertise and support.

[dadmo]

Not all doctors talk about what supplements can do to bloodwork, which kind of surprises me. Anyway congratulations and don't avoid supplements just make sure you get your doctors approval.

[IowaBrian]

Good News!!!!
Brian

[Fish]

Glad to hear the AFP came down to normal!

[jdunn]

That's great news Chris!

[Chris'Mom]

Chris, I just returned from the Bahamas and was so glad to read your AFP dropped, my son Chris will have his done this week, after not having one since July....he is no longer taking creatine, but he does drink protein drinks...I hope that doesn't raise it....take care.....Mary Ellen