CancerCompass message board discussion started by 4myPapi on 3/7/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21784,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Recently my father started a new chemo (Alimta) not fda approved for pc. He has done GTX, GX-T. He is stage 4 with mets to liver and now lymph nodes and some in his lower spine. His bilirubin is high and he is slightly yellow however an ultrasound ruled out a blockage. His platelets have also been dropping dangerously low and he is in a lot of pain. He is scheduled for a celiac block on Monday and I am hoping this helps as he is on 150 mcg of fentenyl, 120 mg of ms contin every 8 hours and percocet for breakthrough but still in pain. Does anyone know why his bilirubin would be high if there is no blockage? Could it be the chemo? 4myPapi Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 3/7/2008 4myPapi wrote:Recently my father started a new chemo (Alimta) not fda approved for pc. He has done GTX, GX-T. He is stage 4 with mets to liver and now lymph nodes and some in his lower spine. His bilirubin is high and he is slightly yellow however an ultrasound ruled out a blockage. His platelets have also been dropping dangerously low and he is in a lot of pain. He is scheduled for a celiac block on Monday and I am hoping this helps as he is on 150 mcg of fentenyl, 120 mg of ms contin every 8 hours and percocet for breakthrough but still in pain. Does anyone know why his bilirubin would be high if there is no blockage? Could it be the chemo? Recently my dad's (pc stage IV with liver mets) bilirubin levels went up and we had to stop chemo. The first thing i thought was that he needed a stent to overcome a potential blockage. Our doctor told me that first we had to establish the cause of high bilirubin levels and explained that there were two scenarios: the first is due to blockage of biliary duct a s a result of tumor growth and pressure on the duct. The second scenario is because of liver damage caused by the metastases, in that case stenting is not an option however without being sure i thing that there is a procedure to "drain" the liver and bring down bilirubin levels. In our case it turned out to be blockage and two days ago we placed a stent. Ask your doctor what is the case and your options. All the best and keep fighting.     Antonios Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT