What now...

I think its the BUN/Creatinine ratio........

What is a BUN/Creatinine ratio?
Occasionally, a doctor will look at the ratio between a person’s BUN and blood creatinine to help them determine what is causing these concentrations to be higher than normal. The ratio of BUN to creatinine is usually between 10:1 and 20:1. An increased ratio may be due to a condition that causes a decrease in the flow of blood to the kidneys, such as congestive heart failure or dehydration. It may also be seen with increased protein, from gastrointestinal bleeding, or increased protein in the diet. The ratio may be decreased with liver disease (due to decrease in the formation of urea) and malnutrition.

Having said that......you've had a major change in diet over the past weeks...so don't read anything into to it yet..............xxxooo Pat

Hi everyone,

Well, we have completed the imaging and labs so heres the run down...

Bone scan - does not show the hip lesion or any other lesions.

PET CT - all ok except that they cant rule out neoplastic invasion in the neobladder collecting system.

Brain scan - found a prominent polyp but no evidence of metastatic disease.

The labs from 2weeks ago show continued increase in the alkaline phosphatase (sp?) so they took labs again yesterday.My B/C ratio is also high - not even sure what that is lol
My local oncologist feels single bone mets are unusual. He suspects others will eventually show up. He also is reluctant to believe a single 1 cm bone met could effect my lab values, so he is suspicious of my liver.
All in all it is better than I prayed for We are sending my imaging to Md Andson for review and also my local oncologist will consult with Drs there as to what they recommend at this point.
I am scheduled for a repeat MR Urogram and urine cytology the 12th of Feb.

Any ideas?
Thank you for each and every prayer and good vibe. God bless,
WARRIOR ANN ATHENA
ps. The dietetic chsnges are still going....I have switched our food to being apx 95% certified organic. Mostly fruits, veggies, and plenty of whole food vitamins and supplements. I have made a better balance of the acid/alkaline foods as well.

Ms. Ann Athenia,

Good to hear you are making some big changes to your diet...this could be very benficial for you. I have worried for several years that my spouse would come down with some type of cancer...he just eats whatever he wants...and so I added selenium to his vitamins...as that is suppose to fight cancer...he and I have both taken viamins for years...at the minimum a multiple but usually we have a total of 8 or 10 we take every day.

Since I was dx'd with BC, and went on chemo and then all the drugs from surgery, I have cut way back on mine. I am now back to taking a multiple, Fish oil twice a day (ammeno fatty acids) lysine, sometimes a "C" or zinc when I sense a cold might be coming on...and somtimes a multiple "B". And I definitely eat a much improved diet since surgery. I make it a point to get my protein. I eat lots of fruits & veggies, chicken, tuna, and very little bread, sweets or red meats. I suspect that is why I haven't gained back the 20 pounds I lost when I first come home. Anyway, I applaud you for taking the steps to improve your diet. I think you will be very glad you did. The only down side is that it cost us more to eat healthy. Hugs to you. Melodie

Hi Everyone,

Well, after much thinking and prayer, I have moved ahead facing this newest leg of my bc journey. My local oncologist has agreed we need current imaging and labs to assess where I am now. He has also agreed to confer with a few leading drs (of my choosing) for recommended treatment. From there we will go. I don't believe I will be seeing the other oncologist again.

I also have been getting a crash course in nutrition, supplements and acid/alkaline not only for everyone, but especially for those who are dealing with cancer. I have been a Starbucks and Taco Bell Junkie for years. Occaisionally I took a vitamin, but I was clueless that it all plays into maintaining an environment within that would fight cancer. Or feed it.

So last week Saturday I changed it all....I gave up Pepsi, fast food, and junk food. I have only consumed certified organic foods - mostly raw fruits and veggies. The majority of which is considered "alkaline" - as I have seen much info that cancer cells can be smothered that way.Supplements, Noni and POM juices, and other items have been added to help that along. What a week this has been...And my neobladder has been just fine. Maybe even better. I was fearful the neo would go thru shock, but it has been a very pleasant change.

Does everyone or anyone here pay strict attention to their diet, supplements and PH levels? Did anyone change their diets so drastically too? Any suggestions or personal experiences I may find helpful?
Maybe it is a given to be knowledgeable on these matters, but I have not been. Was that normal? LOL God Bless, Holly AKA ANN ATHENA

Some people have Transcobalamin II deficiency--- which they have an impairment in intestinal absorption of B12. This disorder of plasma B12 transport plays an important role in binding B12 within the enterocyte (intestinal cell) prior to its entry into the circulation.
Transcobalamin II deficiency--- which is another reason for B12 deficiency--- can be successfuly treated by bypassing the normal physiology by giving B12 injections, which ensures B12 delivery into cells. This can occur if a person has a congenital defect of the distal ileum (last part of the small intestine), or diseased ileum (either from a chronic disorder [ie. Crohn's disease] or surgical removal). These people cannot swallow pills for absorption---- sublingual route and patches---need to be tested in this population----
The Mayo Clinic Proceedings spotlighted the uMMA test as preferred because of convenience and sensitivity.41

In recent comparative studies, the uMMA test was found more sensitive than the serum B12 assay5 or the SMMA test.20

A study found that patients with neurologic disturbances excreted larger amounts of uMMA than those without neurologic disorders42 and recommend the uMMA assay use to attenuate an important cause of permanent neurologic disability.43

The uMMA test reflects tissue/cellular vitamin B12 deficiency and is the leading candidate as the "gold standard" assay for identifying tissue B12 deficiency.19,21



MMA stands for Methylmalonic Acid................Pat

Hi,
Just to clarify my own experience here....I took oral B12 for a few months and my levels dropped to 196 then 146. I went to 2500 mcg sublinguals daily aqnd it dropped further to 126. I have decided the shots are better for me. Holly