Reply With QuoteI also just wanted to mention, I had food posioning 2 weeks prior to getting my markers checked and had to get fluids in the hospital.. Perhaps this impacted the markers a bit ?
Registered User
All Clear (AFP Question)
Hi All,
I'm new to this forum and just had a quick question about markers. Is it normal for them to go up and down every 3 months ?
I had an appointment in Feburary 2012 and the results were:
AFP 5.8 up from 3.7 in November 2011 (prior two years it was ranging from 2.4 - 3.7)
LDH 202 up from 175 in November 2011 (prior two years it was ranging from 158 - 175)
HCG has been unchanged (0)
Last CT in January was all clear / Chest X-Ray in Feburary 2012 was all clear.
Doctor said not to worry its in normal range, see you in June.
I'm just little concerned about the AFP and LDH levels being its the highest its been since my surgery.
Any thoughts ?
Thanks,
Steve
Registered User
All Clear (AFP Question)
I also just wanted to mention, I had food posioning 2 weeks prior to getting my markers checked and had to get fluids in the hospital.. Perhaps this impacted the markers a bit ?
Registered User
My understanding is that markers are a bit variable, a steady trend upwards may be cause for concern, but one test that is up is probably not. I assume you are getting tested regularly, & if so, your next test will tell you more. Just keep in mind, your doc was not concerned, so probably you shouldn't be either.
Jan, 1975: Right I/O, followed by RPLND
Dec, 2009: Left I/O, followed by 3xBEP
Registered User
AFP is in the range, LDH is very aspecific and not really important with other markers normal an clear scans. Mine spiked to almost 500 once (onco was not concerned) but went down on the next check up.
- early Apr/11: something is "wrong" in my righty
- 16/Apr/11: ultrasound find a mass in it
- 27/Apr/11: right I/O
- 29/Apr/11: stadiation CT scan shows "all clear"
- May/11: pathology: 1 cm Seminoma (90% necrotic), no RT/LV invasion
- Surveillance....
- March/13: relapse - para aortic node 1.7 cm, waiting for treatment...
Registered User
Thank you for the information guys!
Initial Prognosis:
4/26/10 (Stage 1A Seminoma)
3.0cm 3.0cm 3.0cm mass in right testicle
Surveillance since April 2010
pT1, Nx, M not applicable
No vasciluar invasion, limited to testicle,regional nodes cannot be assessed
.
Feb 2012:
LDH:202
AFP:5.8
HCG:0
CT (All clear)
Chest x-ray (All clear)
Administrator
You had 100% seminoma. Seminoma does not produce AFP. Although you should watch it next test, it is most likely just a fluctuation that is normal for you. Dr. Einhorn does not worry till over 20.
Best,
Zsolt
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another; "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." - C.S Lewis
“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” - C.S. Lewis
Mass found 11/20/08
Left I/O 11/25/08
Pathology: Seminoma, Stage 1
Surveillance: All Clear since
Registered User
June 2012 Tests
Just a quick question for everyone.
Just received my results today and they were up slightly from Feb 2012.
Should the fact that my AFP and LDH have increase slightly the past three test be a cause for concern ? Doctor stated to me that all is still in range....
June 2012:
AFP = 6.1
LDH = 212
HCG = 0
Feb 2012:
AFP = 5.8
LDH = 202
HCG = 0
Nov 2011:
AFP = 3.8
LDH = 178
HCG = Normal
* Jan 2012 CT was all clear. Next CT is Sept 2012.
Initial Prognosis:
4/26/10 (Stage 1A Seminoma)
3.0cm 3.0cm 3.0cm mass in right testicle
Surveillance since April 2010
pT1, Nx, M not applicable
No vasciluar invasion, limited to testicle,regional nodes cannot be assessed
.
Feb 2012:
LDH:202
AFP:5.8
HCG:0
CT (All clear)
Chest x-ray (All clear)
Registered User
I agree with Aegean on the AFP. It is meaningless for seminoma. My levels have fluctuated about that much for four years. Ignore the LDH. Mine isn't even tested anymore. Keep an eye on the HCG. Go Yankees!
"Statistics are human beings with the tears wiped off" - Paul Brodeur
Diagnosis: 05Sept07 Right I/O: 13Sept07; Pure Seminoma; Surveillance only per NCCN: All Clear February2013 (Chest Xray, Markers); Next check August2013 (CT Scans, Markers)
Registered User
LDH alone is not a tumor marker. It can be above the limit for a lot of reasons.
My first doctor does't used it for a marker since the first chemo. Your AFP is below the limit, and your HCG is ok too.
By the way, normally when you have some problem, your blood tests are at least 1.5 times above limit. For example, by HCG before surgery was 3.3 when the limit is below 0.1!
So, don't worry. Enjoy your life!
*01/04/2008 - BHCG 3.3 and AFP 0.83
*10/01/2008 - Surgery to remove right testicle
Mixed Tumor - 70% seminoma and 30% Embrionary Carcinoma
- Epididymis free of neoplastic involvement
- Spermatic cord compromised
*14/01/2008 - BHCG 1.0 and AFP 0.9
*01/2008 -5/2008 - 4xEP
* After First cycle of chemo, all markers were normal.
* Since of First cycle : * ALL CLEAR *
Registered User
We had the same concern as my husband's AFP is creeping up over time as is the LDH. His onc was not concerned in the least (my husband's tumor was seminoma). As long as your b-Hcg is normal and not creeping, no worries!Originally Posted by stevemc31
Heidi
Husband - age 51
10/20/10 - Primary mediastinal seminoma - 10 x 9.3 cm; ß-HCG = 33 (<2.6); AFP = 3.5 (<9); LDH = 274 (100-200 )
11/1/10 4X BEP
12/7/10 End Cycle 2 - ß-HCG = 2; AFP = 4.6; LDH = 139 ; 4XBEP changed to 3 as tumor now 2.1 x 3.7 cm
2/15/11 - Post-chemo PET ; residual 8 mm x 2 cm
6/29/11 - Lung nodules stable or smaller, chest mass continues to shrink & markers all normal
Surveillance since 6/11
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