Afp Serum Tumor Marker

[GP7852]

Does anybody have knowledge of AFP SERUM TUMOR MARKER?I just located my new bloodwork online.The number for this test was off the charts (196.1) Does the number being that high mean that there are probably tumors?

[SurfsideGal]

Ok, let us know what Dr. Hoteit says.

[SurfsideGal]

Glen, I am so sorry you are having so much trouble. I know it is scary. I really think your best bet now is to get in to see a transplant evaluation team. That does NOT mean you are ready for a transplant. But, they will know how to keep you the healthiest and know which treatment meds are the best for you. Some of the new DAA's are not approved for people with very late stage disease. Ask Dr. Santoro to get you in to see someone who can help you.

[GP7852]

I am going to see Dr Hoteit from the U of Penn on March 8 here at Penns satellite office.I have already written down all the questions as far as the liver transplant program at Penn.It is Sunday and I have been calling the Prime specialty pharmacy to see if they have received my prescription from Santoros office and they have not.Now I talked to the girl who takes care of this on Thursday and she said she has prime therapeutics on the other line to verify that the script is in.They are making me nuts.I will try again tomorrow.My abdomen pain has subsided into an uncomfortable tightness which is better than what I was feeling before.I am still trying to get it scoped but I am not getting any response from the office.Grace from the trials at U of Penn has not gotten back either.Everything just sux right now.My ex had her lung cancer return and my daughter is freaking out about losing the house and how the bills are going to get paid so I just have a lot on my plate right now.I will probably put my place up for sale and move back in my old house so I can pay the bills there if the worst happens.I will let you know if I get a break with the zepatier from my insurance company.

[GP7852]

Sue,I also remember Gina,the girl from Santoros office saying to me that this will take time.I think I was doing blind wishful thinking that it would go right to the specialty pharmacy and they would ship it right out.I should know better than that.This has to be run by the decision makers before I can get it.I guess my desperation made me think there wasn't going to be a waiting game.

[SurfsideGal]

Glen, keep appealing to insurance. Did Santoro order imaging for you?

[GP7852]

Sue,I talked to my docs office this morning.They did send in my prescription and had my insurance company on the other line.She said it takes 24 hours to process the prescription.I will call back the pharmacy tonight and find out my situation.I am praying they let me set up a delivery even though that's a longshot.The frustrating thing is all the numbers of my new bloodwork were off the charts but my platelets went up to 55 which would have gotten me in the gilead trial in Hillsborough.Thats if they would tolerate the high bilirubin number.Still trying to get Grace from u of penn on the phone but she is not calling back.Im trying to get a fax # to send in my bloodwork there but no response.They wouldn't take me anyway cause of my other numbers but I will keep on trying.At this point I just want to stop the hepatitis.Im in constant pain now and pretty scared.I know I have reached a new level and I am scared to know how serious it is.

[SurfsideGal]

Hi Glen, the AFP test is not a good marker. Usually when tumors are present it is over 400. Most hep docs do not look at AFP alone, but pair it with imaging such as ultrasound or CT scans. If you haven't had imaging in the last 6 months, yo shold ask yor doc to do that.

[GP7852]

I called this morning Sue.I talked to the girl that contacts my insurance company and she is going to present this to my doctors nurse to show him.I am having a lot of discomfort and that tumor marker got me very nervous.I have talked to the specialty pharmacy of my insurance company and they said I could use my 401k to pay for the meds myself but they have not received the prescription yet from my docs office.My docs office told me today that they just sent in the prescription.I also got a call from Penn.My platelets were up to 55 which makes me eligible for their gilead trial but I am waiting to hear back from them as to where to fax my bloodwork and what the gilead meds are.I don't know if my bilirubin numbers are going to be acceptable for the trial as they too are off the charts and she did mention once to me that those numbers have to be right for me to be in the trial.