Hep C Discussion Forum

Canuck · Guru

RE: 4 week Harvoni blood results

Tig · Admin

Ha, you can spell it anyway you like! I've become used to both forms of English after being a member of this global forum for years. I think it's pretty great that we live in all corners of the globe and we seem to be in tune.

Good news on the tumor imaging. I'm also glad you're nearing the end of treatment. Things are looking better everyday!

Re-Buy · Member

Hi Tig

Tumor/Tumour. Lol. The spelling has had me stumped since I have had to start writing it. I try to split the difference. Tomorrow I will use tumor.

The plan is to not image it unless health issues warrant it again. I am putting on weight, my skin tone has noticeably improved and I am feeling great.

I really feel that there isn't any tumour to image anyway.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)

Tig · Admin

Hi Clayton,

That's a good report! How often does your doctor image your tumor (tumour)? The addition of five pounds is great. I'll give you some extra that I've been putting on if you're interested!

Keep up the excellent progress. You're really coming along nicely!!

Re-Buy · Member

Hi Canuck

Nice to hear from you.

Life is good these days. My recent blood work relating to the HCV show " normal " results except for platelets. They got up to 127 and 4 days later ( cancer blood work) they had dropped to 84. This is not overly concerning to me. My oncologist said that she would be worried if they dropped to 20.

The good news from the cancer aspect...

I have put on another 5 pounds.

The blood work results were good.

She was unable to feel the tumour.

She did not detect any tumours in any other lymph nodes.

I have five weeks of Harvoni remaining. End of treatment blood work is on October 25.

Canuck · Guru

Hey Re-Buy!

Yer a hard fella to find tonight fer some reason!

Maybe I'm not doing it right, I've been seeing posts from you (here and there) but of course when I am wanting to I could not stumble across one of them tonight and wanted to ask how you were doing, so I tried "searching for "Re-Buy" via the various magical mechanisms on this site, and nothing worked!

I just defaulted to searching around in the dark 'til I found one of your "harvoni threads" to find you.

I got ya now! I haven't a clue why I could not make "Re-Buy" pull you up somehow, I must be having a senior moment or a fog hour!

Anywho, how is ya? Anything new to update us with? How are you feeling? smile C.

Pablito · Senior Member

Canuck wrote:
blood dyscrasias

Who invents these words? Do doctors deliberately invent complicated words to shroud their work in mystery?

Congrats on the bloods Re-buy.

Pablo

Re-Buy · Member

Good morning Canuck and a fine morning it is. The Harvoni already has had some effects on me. I have been sleeping a solid six hours. I was used to getting up every couple hours to pee, but even with all the water, I am sleeping. My energy level has also gone up.

The tumor is below my ribs on my left side. My inability to put on weight, itching, muscle spasms and memory loss drove me to seek have hcv treatment which is how they found the tumor. I didn't have night sweats or other cancer indicators.

My first two biopsies were ct scan assisted but had inadequate sampling amounts. My third one also did bone marrow, but was also inadequate. They pulled out the big guns for the fourth one. This one invloved a camera in one incision and a sample retriever in another. If all went well, I would have 3 or 4 band-aids. He was concerned about a vein in close proximity. He did clip that vein and had to open me up to repair it. This time they did get a good sample.

I have an appointment with my lead oncologist on Friday. I have only had sit-downs with my surgeon and my radiation oncologist since my last scan. We will then determine a plan of " attack ...or retreat " I want to finish the Harvoni before we do any cancer treatment other than size determination.

I started Harvoni after it was determined that the tumor had shrunk, so there is no relationship between the two.

-- Edited by Re-Buy on Saturday 18th of June 2016 01:25:04 PM

Canuck · Guru

Hi Re-buy,

Aha, here are your labs! - from your other thread, I followed your blood work over here. I was looking for mention of your your 4 week VL in the other thread, but understand (now) that a 4 week VL was not drawn, it was just your 4 week LFT's and other blood values that were drawn, and posted over here. As you explained, you do not get a VL until week 12. We will look forward to that one then!

Lovely fast drops in your ALT, AST, GGT at the 4 week mark of being on Harvoni! Looking really good. I'm just curious (now that you are well into your Harvoni treatment), if you can yet discern feeling any "different" (or better), in anyway? Perhaps too early and too many other things going on to discern any differences or what to attribute them to.

I too (pre-treatment) had some consistently abnormal bloods/blood dyscrasias, TIBC's, etc. - persistently high iron sats., and ferritin levels, but shortly after EOT, I requested another check of them and, so far, many have spontaneously improved! Some, within normal limits, for the first time! Perhaps this will happen for you too.

I am interested in your troubles with your "marginal B abd. lymphoma" - why did you have to have so many surgical biopsies in the last 7 months to define this lymphoma?? It IS REALLY nice that the size of it has markedly regressed, spontaneously (as shown on your CAT scan), but why did they have to go into to you so many times to biopsy it, over 7 months?? 4 times I think you said? Gruelling. Where (exactly) is the lymphoma located? Was it confined to only one area? "Marginal" (in reference to the abdomen) would usually be associated with being near stomach/bowel mucosa - if they could image it so well, then I just wondered, why you had to endure so many biopsies (if it was in one location only), and, I was wondering where it is located. "B" lymphomas can have some mild symptoms attributed to them, did you have any of those?

What is their long term plan for your lymphoma, being that it is smaller now, will they be treating it (as you described in your other thread) after your Harvoni is finished?

Low platelets, both you AND wmj1960 (Mike)! Gee, I am glad he posted his impressive historical labs for us to see. Man what does 50 and 66 feel like!!! Yikes! I am not up (at all) on blood dyscrasia's, but sheesh, would it not help to "receive" some platelets!! You know - a bagged lunch, so to speak - man, a person must feel a wee bit more than peckish when you get down to 50!! What they heck do these docs suggest when your platelets get too low!?

I am very happy your LFT's are showing a very good response to the Harvoni, you must be feeling quite a bit of relief seeing that dropping ALT! Are you thinking your Harvoni treatment may have also helped (in part) in being better able to spontaneously reduce the size of the lymphoma?

Hope you are feeling OK. smile C.

Re-Buy · Member

wmlj1960 wrote:
Re-Buy wrote:
Platelets 85/103 ref= (150-400).
As Jimmy said, platelets tend to fluctuate sometimes but 85 to 103 is a very good improvement over 4 weeks for a cirrhotic in my book. I want some of whatever your doing. Keep up the good work. Since taking Lovenox injections to thin my blood after after surgeries 1-2015 my platelets have struggled to recover although my other labs look good. Your ALT / AST improvements are impressive also. You are on the right track!
Attached is an example in my case:

Blood work today for my cancer showed platelets dropped to 79. I'm thinking you may Not want what I have been doing after all. :) Fluctuation and " faintly hemolyzed "

wmlj1960 · Moderator

Re-Buy wrote:
Platelets 85/103 ref= (150-400).

As Jimmy said, platelets tend to fluctuate sometimes but 85 to 103 is a very good improvement over 4 weeks for a cirrhotic in my book. I want some of whatever your doing. Keep up the good work. Since taking Lovenox injections to thin my blood after after surgeries 1-2015 my platelets have struggled to recover although my other labs look good. Your ALT / AST improvements are impressive also. You are on the right track!

Attached is an example in my case:

Tig · Admin

Yes, significant improvements! Good job, keep moving forward, you're doing it right. Keep hydrating properly and stick to the plan. Nothing but a reason to smile!

JimmyK · Guru

Greetings,

I am going to attempt to respond but am asking for some clarification

"There are improvements after 4 weeks of Harvoni. My viral count pre treatment was 950,000."

Do you have the new count?

"ALT was 132/ now 46 reference = 50."

That is a huge drop. Very good.

"AST 112/37 ref=30."

That is a huge drop. Very good.

"Gamma GT 132/56 ref=55."

Just shy of a normal reading and a huge drop.

"MCH 31.1/29.3 ref= (27-31)."

Insignificant but in normal range.

"Platelets 85/103 ref= (150-400)."

Platelets tend to vary some but your are headed in the right direction.

"I am unable to compare the viral load until week 12."

I would assume UND at that time and going forward during treatment.

"Iron saturation =.49 (ref is .2-.45 )"

Slightly high.

"Ferritin is 927.0 ( ref = 40-300 )"

Iron saturation / inflammation, kind of goes hand in hand with the cirrhotic condition. Other end of anemic.

"IgA is .69 (ref = .7- 4.0"

Barely low.

I have listed results that were abnormal. There is definitely improvement, but is it significant?

The improvements are in fact significant, yes. The ALT / AST means your liver is just beginning to get a needed rest. That will continue to improve as treatment continues. Platelets as an example are a slow heal IMHO but so long as headed in the right direction your are healing.

The 24 weeks was granted for a reason and this takes some time. But you are definitely on the right track.

I just saw you smile and you should.

biggrin JimmyK

Re-Buy · Member

There are improvements after 4 weeks of Harvoni. My viral count pre treatment was 950,000. ALT was 132/ now 46 reference = 50. AST 112/37 ref=30. Gamma GT 132/56 ref=55. MCH 31.1/29.3 ref= (27-31). Platelets 85/103 ref= (150-400). I am unable to compare the viral load until week 12. Iron saturation =.49 (ref is .2-.45 ) Ferritin is 927.0 ( ref = 40-300 ) IgA is .69 (ref = .7- 4.0) I have listed results that were abnormal. There is definitely improvement, but is it significant?

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