AFP increasing

[dt22207]

Many thanks for the input. AFP was down to 5 today. Even after 7 hours in the chair, when I got that report I was ready to dance home.

[AdrianB1971]

!!

stay calm ! My AFP is very fluctuating : 2->8->3->6 etc
[ooops no wine in my refrigerator !!!]

[dadmo]

Under 6 is normal however cancer isn't assumed until the number is over 25.

[dt22207]

Thanks Lori. That's interesting. My doctor uses under 6.1 as normal for AFP. I didn't realize there was such a spread in what could be considered normal.

They also hadn't told me that the markers might go up without it being bad news. It would have been better to hear it beforehand. After the fact it just sounds like they're trying to pacify me so I won't worry.

[Lori]

Indiana University normal for AFP is less than 25. At our hospital in VT it is less than 10. When my husband's AFP wasn't normalizing the Doctor's wanted to see a few weeks of test to see the trend. We were also told that sometimes the markers will slightly spike after one round of chemo. I'm sure the AFP markers will continue to go down.

[dt22207]

I got tumor markers done last Friday just prior to the start of the second round of BEP.

Pre-surgery AFP was 25/hcg 200. Left orchiectomy on 1/7. Tumor was stage 1 with vascular invasion, predominantly seminoma w/small elements nonseminomas yolk sac and choriocarcinoma.

Post surgery and pre chemo it had dropped. HCG was under 2, AFP down to 7.3 and LDH was at 140.

After one round of BEP, HCG has stayed under 2. LDH has stayed within range but increased to 164. And AFP, which never made it to normal, has crept up to 10.4.

Doctor and nurse tell me it's not a worry. It's possibly the result of the AFP test responding to my white blood cell response to allergies. I get another test tomorrow and next week.

I realize this is really specific, but does anyone have thoughts on whether the doctor's explanation sounds reasonable and what I should be doing if the AFP and/or LDH continue going up?

Many thanks.