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I just wondered if any of you had any insight on my case. My AFP has never reached the magic 25 number (thank God), but before chemo I believe my AFP value was like 5 or less (it was normal). After the first round or two of chemo it went up to 12 and a couple weeks after it was up to 19. I was freaking out, but when we retested weeks later it had thankfully dropped to 10. I was just wondering what caused it to go up in the first place? I've read that as the bad cells die they can release their proteins and raise markers during chemo and seeing as chemo keeps working even after your finish for a bit of time I guess it could continue to uptick slightly. That has been my rationale since it dropped significantly after the last test. What would you all think?
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3/29/17 Diagnosed 100% Embryonal 4/10/17 Left I/O CT scan shows a few suspicious lymph (biggest 1.9 cm) 5/8/17 - 7/3/17 3xBEP 7/20/17 CT Scan Clear, AFP has uptick to 19 8/16/17 AFP Drops in half to 10, ALL CLEAR! 6/08/23 All clears up to here! 6 years all clear! Son born September 2022, conceived naturally! -
Ahhhhh, the dreaded AFP. Scientifically, AFP is supposed to show a pattern of dropping and upticks are concerning. My understanding is the LDH upticks with tumor death. Anecdotally, some people have AFP markers that don't perform as expected and without pre-cancer numbers, you've no way to tell what your normal number is. As you enter surveillance, your AFP may give you some scares unless it magically settles down. Lots of guys on here are living with years of AFP changes and their accompanying anxiety so you're in good company! I believe you should have tumor markers done every 3 months at this point. -
FYI AFP above normal is also related to liver function and disease.6/5/15: bHCG 27,AFP 8.66, LDH 361, 5.6cm lymph node - Stage IIC
6/16/15: Left I/O 85% EC, 10% chorio, 5% yolk sac opinion 2 (mayo) 90% EC, 10% yolk sac
7/7/15: bHCG 56, AFP 42, LDH 322
7/13/15: begin 4xEP, end 9/18/15
10/1/15: bloodwork normal, ct scan shows 2 lymph nodes 1.0cm
10/26/15: 2nd opinion on CT results - lymph nodes normal. Surveillance!
4/6/16: 1.7cm X 1.5cm lymph node found with markers normal.
4/20/16: RPLND @ IU - teratoma only!
10/22/19: all clears up to this date!
4/8/24: stopped monitoring something like 2 years ago, still all clear!Comment
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It makes sense the liver could be hurt by chemo and begin to recover post chemo.3/29/17 Diagnosed 100% Embryonal 4/10/17 Left I/O CT scan shows a few suspicious lymph (biggest 1.9 cm) 5/8/17 - 7/3/17 3xBEP 7/20/17 CT Scan Clear, AFP has uptick to 19 8/16/17 AFP Drops in half to 10, ALL CLEAR! 6/08/23 All clears up to here! 6 years all clear! Son born September 2022, conceived naturally!Comment
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IIRC someone here had posted that they had a large number of drinks the day before their blood tests and their AFP was at the very very top of the normal range, which was higher than their normal level.6/5/15: bHCG 27,AFP 8.66, LDH 361, 5.6cm lymph node - Stage IIC
6/16/15: Left I/O 85% EC, 10% chorio, 5% yolk sac opinion 2 (mayo) 90% EC, 10% yolk sac
7/7/15: bHCG 56, AFP 42, LDH 322
7/13/15: begin 4xEP, end 9/18/15
10/1/15: bloodwork normal, ct scan shows 2 lymph nodes 1.0cm
10/26/15: 2nd opinion on CT results - lymph nodes normal. Surveillance!
4/6/16: 1.7cm X 1.5cm lymph node found with markers normal.
4/20/16: RPLND @ IU - teratoma only!
10/22/19: all clears up to this date!
4/8/24: stopped monitoring something like 2 years ago, still all clear!Comment
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Interesting!Comment
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Good morning everyone, my name is yusuf, I am 27yrs of age, just last week I notice little pains and reduction in size my left testicle now it has affected the right testis also...
What can be the course of this?Comment
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I would definitely see a doctor about that. I'm not a doctor but obviously being here I have experience in issues with testicles.3/29/17 Diagnosed 100% Embryonal 4/10/17 Left I/O CT scan shows a few suspicious lymph (biggest 1.9 cm) 5/8/17 - 7/3/17 3xBEP 7/20/17 CT Scan Clear, AFP has uptick to 19 8/16/17 AFP Drops in half to 10, ALL CLEAR! 6/08/23 All clears up to here! 6 years all clear! Son born September 2022, conceived naturally!Comment
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Hi
your AFP can be a bit higher if you are dehydrated... which can happen during chemo.... or the mentioned impact on liver... Or maybe you are one of the people with high AFP ...and it is a normal increase for you. dont assume now the worst
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Thanks. Initially I was really worried but Einhorn assured me there was 0 chance I had persistent cancer and the number dropping by half really was the definitive proof I needed
For Einhorns words.3/29/17 Diagnosed 100% Embryonal 4/10/17 Left I/O CT scan shows a few suspicious lymph (biggest 1.9 cm) 5/8/17 - 7/3/17 3xBEP 7/20/17 CT Scan Clear, AFP has uptick to 19 8/16/17 AFP Drops in half to 10, ALL CLEAR! 6/08/23 All clears up to here! 6 years all clear! Son born September 2022, conceived naturally!Comment
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fantastic to hear from Dr. E. !!!!Comment
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Talked to Dr. E about the AFP. He basically said AFP is tricky and isn’t uncommon to do weird things. He said one test is never of concern. They look for trends and since mine went from 19 to 10 there’s nothing to worry about. He said as expected all is well.3/29/17 Diagnosed 100% Embryonal 4/10/17 Left I/O CT scan shows a few suspicious lymph (biggest 1.9 cm) 5/8/17 - 7/3/17 3xBEP 7/20/17 CT Scan Clear, AFP has uptick to 19 8/16/17 AFP Drops in half to 10, ALL CLEAR! 6/08/23 All clears up to here! 6 years all clear! Son born September 2022, conceived naturally!Comment
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