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Elevated AFP
I am a 62-year old female. In July-August, 1983, I had a very serious case of (what they now call) hepatitis C ( which they then termed non-A, non-B hepatitis) for 6 weeks & was in the hospital for a week. I've never been so sick. So often websites say that symptoms for hepatitis C are mild to moderate--this wasn't the case for me. I worked in dentistry & caught it from a sick patient. After I got well, the dr. did a scan & said my liver looked fine.
Last October, my primary care dr. sent me for regular blood tests, including an AFP test. It came back at 15.3 (with normal being 0-10). I had a CT scan & it was clear. In Dec. I had another AFP blood test & it came back at 16.7. I had a PET scan & it came back clear. In January I had another AFP test, & it came back at 18.4 So, I had an Ultrasound & it came back clear. Today I got the results of the latest AFP & it is now 16.5. All of my doctors are totally stumped. This merry-go-round has me & my husband very upset because our doctors just don't have any answers. They say that my AFP shouldn't be elevated from hepatitis C after all these years. But, my gastroenterologist thinks I will develop liver cancer, with time. He has seen this before & says that the liver cancer tumors can take months to years to show up. He had one patient whose AFP went up slowly like mine, & after 5 yrs., she developed 3 tumors in her liver suddenly, all at once.
Has anyone had a similar situation or know why an AFP would go up & down? Incidentally, I feel fine & have not been ill, but I do have pain most of the time in my right side within the ribcage area.
I would really appreciaate hearing from anybody with any thoughts or knowledge about an elevated AFP.
This discussion is related to Alpha Fetoprotein questions....
Last October, my primary care dr. sent me for regular blood tests, including an AFP test. It came back at 15.3 (with normal being 0-10). I had a CT scan & it was clear. In Dec. I had another AFP blood test & it came back at 16.7. I had a PET scan & it came back clear. In January I had another AFP test, & it came back at 18.4 So, I had an Ultrasound & it came back clear. Today I got the results of the latest AFP & it is now 16.5. All of my doctors are totally stumped. This merry-go-round has me & my husband very upset because our doctors just don't have any answers. They say that my AFP shouldn't be elevated from hepatitis C after all these years. But, my gastroenterologist thinks I will develop liver cancer, with time. He has seen this before & says that the liver cancer tumors can take months to years to show up. He had one patient whose AFP went up slowly like mine, & after 5 yrs., she developed 3 tumors in her liver suddenly, all at once.
Has anyone had a similar situation or know why an AFP would go up & down? Incidentally, I feel fine & have not been ill, but I do have pain most of the time in my right side within the ribcage area.
I would really appreciaate hearing from anybody with any thoughts or knowledge about an elevated AFP.
This discussion is related to Alpha Fetoprotein questions....
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