› Forums › General Melanoma Community › LDH Levels
- This topic has 30 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 1 month ago by
Colleen66.
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- January 14, 2014 at 4:01 pm
- I recently had my 2nd melanoma removed. The first was in 2009 on my left shoulder, the 2nd on my lower left leg. After wide exsision, SLN & margins were clear. My official diagnosis statis is "Stage 1b" (T2a NO MO)
My November LDH level was 219 with the standard range of 125 – 250 U/L. Since this is on the high side of the range, I am a little concerned. I have not had any CT/MRI or PET scans done to date.
Does anyone else have any insight on LDH levels??
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- January 14, 2014 at 5:03 pm
When my husband was first moved to stage IV his LDH was 1200 and as his Ipi Clinical Trial started working it dropped. He has been NED now for 17 months and his LDH is usually between 180 and 230 for most of his blood tests. So I think yours is fine since it is in the normal range.
I wouldn't worry about those numbers especially since you are very low in the staging also.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)
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- January 14, 2014 at 5:03 pm
When my husband was first moved to stage IV his LDH was 1200 and as his Ipi Clinical Trial started working it dropped. He has been NED now for 17 months and his LDH is usually between 180 and 230 for most of his blood tests. So I think yours is fine since it is in the normal range.
I wouldn't worry about those numbers especially since you are very low in the staging also.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)
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- January 14, 2014 at 5:03 pm
When my husband was first moved to stage IV his LDH was 1200 and as his Ipi Clinical Trial started working it dropped. He has been NED now for 17 months and his LDH is usually between 180 and 230 for most of his blood tests. So I think yours is fine since it is in the normal range.
I wouldn't worry about those numbers especially since you are very low in the staging also.
Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)
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- January 14, 2014 at 5:14 pm
A heightened LDH level (330) led to me being scanned, which then led to my diagnosis (IV). However, before ordering the scan, my doctor (a mel specialist) had my LDH re-tested noting that there can often be a false positive. In fact, my doctor would not order the scan until the LDH was re-tested to confirm (this was true even though I also had a small subcutaneous mass–later determined to be mel). My point is not that I think you should be concerned (particularly since your level is much lower). Rather, I'd ask to have your LDH re-tested–both now and maybe again in a few weeks. Other posters will tell you that LDH is not a good indicator of metastasis. Maybe they're right–I haven't done the research. For me personally–it was an essential step in the path to my diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
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- January 15, 2014 at 2:29 am
I'm no medical expert but I think what happens is when you work your muscles hard a by product is lactic acid is released into the blood stream which can cause an increase in LDH levels on blood test. I did a quick google and couldn't really find anything stating how much increase you could expect. I found the below quote on the Livestrong website.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme which demonstrates elevated levels when body tissue breaks down. LDH is present in plant lifeforms as well as animals and humans. Exercise can increase LDH levels in your blood, although an increase in the level of exercise stress on your body does not cause any additional increase in LDH levels. Elevated LDH levels without exercise may indicate the presence of HIV, cancer, meningitis or encephalitis
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- January 15, 2014 at 2:29 am
I'm no medical expert but I think what happens is when you work your muscles hard a by product is lactic acid is released into the blood stream which can cause an increase in LDH levels on blood test. I did a quick google and couldn't really find anything stating how much increase you could expect. I found the below quote on the Livestrong website.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme which demonstrates elevated levels when body tissue breaks down. LDH is present in plant lifeforms as well as animals and humans. Exercise can increase LDH levels in your blood, although an increase in the level of exercise stress on your body does not cause any additional increase in LDH levels. Elevated LDH levels without exercise may indicate the presence of HIV, cancer, meningitis or encephalitis
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- January 15, 2014 at 2:29 am
I'm no medical expert but I think what happens is when you work your muscles hard a by product is lactic acid is released into the blood stream which can cause an increase in LDH levels on blood test. I did a quick google and couldn't really find anything stating how much increase you could expect. I found the below quote on the Livestrong website.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme which demonstrates elevated levels when body tissue breaks down. LDH is present in plant lifeforms as well as animals and humans. Exercise can increase LDH levels in your blood, although an increase in the level of exercise stress on your body does not cause any additional increase in LDH levels. Elevated LDH levels without exercise may indicate the presence of HIV, cancer, meningitis or encephalitis
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- January 14, 2014 at 5:14 pm
A heightened LDH level (330) led to me being scanned, which then led to my diagnosis (IV). However, before ordering the scan, my doctor (a mel specialist) had my LDH re-tested noting that there can often be a false positive. In fact, my doctor would not order the scan until the LDH was re-tested to confirm (this was true even though I also had a small subcutaneous mass–later determined to be mel). My point is not that I think you should be concerned (particularly since your level is much lower). Rather, I'd ask to have your LDH re-tested–both now and maybe again in a few weeks. Other posters will tell you that LDH is not a good indicator of metastasis. Maybe they're right–I haven't done the research. For me personally–it was an essential step in the path to my diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
-
- January 14, 2014 at 5:14 pm
A heightened LDH level (330) led to me being scanned, which then led to my diagnosis (IV). However, before ordering the scan, my doctor (a mel specialist) had my LDH re-tested noting that there can often be a false positive. In fact, my doctor would not order the scan until the LDH was re-tested to confirm (this was true even though I also had a small subcutaneous mass–later determined to be mel). My point is not that I think you should be concerned (particularly since your level is much lower). Rather, I'd ask to have your LDH re-tested–both now and maybe again in a few weeks. Other posters will tell you that LDH is not a good indicator of metastasis. Maybe they're right–I haven't done the research. For me personally–it was an essential step in the path to my diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
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- January 15, 2014 at 3:52 am
Hubby was diagnosed Stage IV in August 2013 via FNA and confirmed by PET/CT in Sept 2013, no cancer symptoms, only a nodule in lower abdomen area. His LDH level were never higher than 175 and I always was confused by this. What am I missing here?
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- January 16, 2014 at 4:35 am
Maria,
I think the bottom line is that LDH is just a test that Doctors commonly use as a "possible" indicator for melanoma or other cancers. Basically LDH is a enzyme that is released into the blood through a break down in body tissue. When cancer is spreading in the body and causing tissue breakdown LDH is released into the blood and can be detected by doing a LDH blood test. Low or normal LDH levels is no gurantee that you don't have cancer just as a high LDH blood test wouldn't be a guarantee that you did have cancer but a high test would definitely warrant further study. I think doctors like to use it because it's a fairly cheap and quick results. Like your husband I had some fairly extensive melanoma in my intestines which was eventually found through a endoscopy procedure but my LDH levels were normal.
Brian
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- January 16, 2014 at 4:35 am
Maria,
I think the bottom line is that LDH is just a test that Doctors commonly use as a "possible" indicator for melanoma or other cancers. Basically LDH is a enzyme that is released into the blood through a break down in body tissue. When cancer is spreading in the body and causing tissue breakdown LDH is released into the blood and can be detected by doing a LDH blood test. Low or normal LDH levels is no gurantee that you don't have cancer just as a high LDH blood test wouldn't be a guarantee that you did have cancer but a high test would definitely warrant further study. I think doctors like to use it because it's a fairly cheap and quick results. Like your husband I had some fairly extensive melanoma in my intestines which was eventually found through a endoscopy procedure but my LDH levels were normal.
Brian
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- January 16, 2014 at 4:35 am
Maria,
I think the bottom line is that LDH is just a test that Doctors commonly use as a "possible" indicator for melanoma or other cancers. Basically LDH is a enzyme that is released into the blood through a break down in body tissue. When cancer is spreading in the body and causing tissue breakdown LDH is released into the blood and can be detected by doing a LDH blood test. Low or normal LDH levels is no gurantee that you don't have cancer just as a high LDH blood test wouldn't be a guarantee that you did have cancer but a high test would definitely warrant further study. I think doctors like to use it because it's a fairly cheap and quick results. Like your husband I had some fairly extensive melanoma in my intestines which was eventually found through a endoscopy procedure but my LDH levels were normal.
Brian
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- January 15, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Check out thee resources referred to on this page. http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ldh/
My LDH levels have stayed within the normal range, regardless of my status. LDH is also an indicator as to how some treatment are apt to work on one.
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- January 15, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Check out thee resources referred to on this page. http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ldh/
My LDH levels have stayed within the normal range, regardless of my status. LDH is also an indicator as to how some treatment are apt to work on one.
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- January 15, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Check out thee resources referred to on this page. http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ldh/
My LDH levels have stayed within the normal range, regardless of my status. LDH is also an indicator as to how some treatment are apt to work on one.
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- January 16, 2014 at 1:05 pm
I just wanted to add, my LDH has always been low (in the 90's) and only breached 100 once when I had active disease. As previously suggested, in certain people it may not be a strong indicator of anything, On the flip side, since my level runs in the 90's, If it does bump up it could mean something even though it is well below Normal. I believe having a long time span of level checks can find your personal normal and only then does it become diagnostic.
Colleen
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- January 16, 2014 at 1:05 pm
I just wanted to add, my LDH has always been low (in the 90's) and only breached 100 once when I had active disease. As previously suggested, in certain people it may not be a strong indicator of anything, On the flip side, since my level runs in the 90's, If it does bump up it could mean something even though it is well below Normal. I believe having a long time span of level checks can find your personal normal and only then does it become diagnostic.
Colleen
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- January 16, 2014 at 1:05 pm
I just wanted to add, my LDH has always been low (in the 90's) and only breached 100 once when I had active disease. As previously suggested, in certain people it may not be a strong indicator of anything, On the flip side, since my level runs in the 90's, If it does bump up it could mean something even though it is well below Normal. I believe having a long time span of level checks can find your personal normal and only then does it become diagnostic.
Colleen
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