Possible liver cancer

Hi everyone, let me start by saying I've never posted anything like this before so if I sound silly I'm sorry in advance. A bit of backstory for me. In 2016 I was pregnant with twins and was first diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis. Since then my liver count has been deranged. However the most my ALP and ALT has been is just over 200. As the months have gone on I'm now experiencing jaundice on and off which is unusual for me as even when my liver count was at its highest I was never yellow. 

My GGT Is 128

My cholesterol is 9 (I'm not over weight)

My stomach is swollen and the itching is unbearable. My liver work is now sitting at under 500! I don't drink or do drugs I'm 27 years old. The gastro doctors ordered a AMA test and went over all my medications. I've had US and CT scans countless times but my liver looks fine but my bloods are clearing saying its not. I meet my hepatology doctor in a month and they are suspecting it may be a form of cancer. 

Has anyone here had anything similar with scans being fine but bloods being terrible?

  • Hello Glinda-130

    I'm sorry to hear that you developed obstetric cholestasis, also known as OC or ICP, in your pregnancy and that your children were born, but your liver function has never returned to normal. 

    Whilst it's reassuring to hear that the scans you've had to date haven't given any immediate cause for concern it's understandable that you, and your Consultant, have concerns about your continued raised blood results and the debilitating symptoms that you're experiencing. What plan has the Hepatologist given you for moving forwards? Are they planning to carry out further tests or refer you to another specialist? Hopefully they were able to give you some reassurance about the next steps. 

    Primary liver cancer is an uncommon cancer in the UK and I'm not sure that we have any members here who have similar experiences. Hopefully if there is someone who has been through similar issues they will reply to share their stories with you. In the meantime, you may want to contact the British Liver Trust which has a helpline staffed by expert liver nurses. It may also be worth getting in touch with ICP Support to see if they are able to offer any information about post-ICP complications. 

    If you want to chat things through with one of our nurses you're most welcome to call them on 0808 800 4040. Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 

    I do hope that your specialist is able to get a firm diagnosis for you soon and that what the diagnosis, things improve for you. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator 

  • Hi Jen 

    Well as I'm writing this I've been in hospital for a week to the day. I've had a MRCP and am still waiting for the results. The pruritus and jaundice are climbing and they put me on cholestyramin but that made me vomit. They can't put me on a new drug until my report comes back. 

  • Take it they've tested you for viral things?

    I really wish I could remember what my mum said she had when she was younger, but basically when she was around 16, they all but had her dead and buried as her liver counts were similar to yours, and she had all the symptoms you had. They could not figure out what was wrong, and zero blockages were found. They mentioned to my gran it could be cancer. But nope, they could never find anything.

    In a bizarre twist of events, she spontaneously got better. She told me this about 10 years ago, so my memory is hazy. But they all kinda agreed it must have been something viral and gave a name to it. But we're talking the 1960's here.