I have gotten my blood test markers back for this quarter. Seratonin, chromogranin A and gastrin are all very low. In fact chromogranin A and seratonin are below the normal range! A few months ago, a PA in oncology told me that he had never seen them this low in a patient! These markers are tests to see if the disease is progressing/changing. When I was first diagnosed, seratonin was 7 times higher than it should be. Chromogranin A was 3 times too high. Gastrin was 50% too high.
The numbers have been low since 14 months ago when half my liver with a 6.3 cm tumor was removed. Before the surgery the numbers were in the high-normal and sometimes high range and I was feeling ill. Obviously the tumor was generating a lot of crap into my blood stream! I felt better than I had felt in years just a day after the 5.5 hour surgery. I still feel great although the diarrhea happens occasionally, usually triggered by some food or activity.
The next thing will be a CT scan which is scheduled every 6 months.
In the meantime, I continue to feel well. Night sweats and evening chills occur a few times a month as the monthly injections wear off. The symptomatic diarrhea happens a few times a month, probably triggered by something I eat or do. I can live with that!
I am fishing a bit more this year. Meditating, going to AA meetings, Working on music and youtube tutorials. Laurie and I have been to Mesa Verde to see the cliff dwellings again. All good stuff. I did not know how bad I felt, how depressed, until after the surgery.
May we all have the best possible outcomes,
Cy
