1. < Prostate Cancer
Profile picture for kenk1962

Elevated liver enzymes following radiation

Posted by kenk1962 @kenk1962, Aug 4, 2025

I sent an inquiry to my radiation oncologist earlier today about elevated liver enzymes following the completion of my radiation treatments.

In particular, it has been a month since completing my SBRT radiation. Got some blood lab results back and I noted my ALT and AST liver enzymes were nearly three times higher (i.e., ALT was 98 IU/L and AST was 66 IU/L) than any time in the last decade.

Question: Has anyone else noticed a similar, hopefully temporary, jump in their liver enzymes approximately one month after completing their radiation treatments?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for kenk1962
kenk1962 | @kenk1962 | Aug 5, 2025
In reply to @sicernon3 "I had elevated bilirubin, AST and ALT not caused by radiation, it was a result of..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sicetnon3 @sicernon3

I had elevated bilirubin, AST and ALT not caused by radiation, it was a result of the Zytiga I was on. They pulled it and a week latter I started a lower dose. Since then things have stabilized. All the best to you on your journey…

Jump to this post

Thank you for your feedback. Judging from the responses in these posts it seems ADT is the likely cause of my liver enzymes elevation.

Good to hear your levels stabilized after modifying your Zytiga dose. Just curious -- was your revised lower dose able to keep your testosterone at an appropriate low level or was it more of a compromise to balance the need for you to maintain a healthier liver?

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for kenk1962
kenk1962 | @kenk1962 | Aug 5, 2025
In reply to @capatov "I don't know about a causal link between radiation treatment and elevated liver enzymes. I do..." + (show)
Profile picture for capatov @capatov

I don't know about a causal link between radiation treatment and elevated liver enzymes. I do know last year my wife's liver enzymes hit almost 1000 for no reason.

Blood tests, lever cancer screens, and a liver biopsy showed nothing. Her levels returned to normal and liver MD said "sometimes the enzymes just go up...and we never know why". My wife's liver enzymes have been normal ever since - thank God.

Best MD could guess was something she ate or came in contact with drove her enzymes through the roof for a short period of time. I think MDs call these "idiopathic" conditions with no known cause

This true story might be reassuring to you...might not?

Good luck

Jump to this post

Wow -- oh my gosh. 1000 level liver enzymes would be crazy scary.

So good to hear your wife's situation was simply an unexplained, temporary type of event. Thank you for sharing your wife's story.

REPLY
Profile picture for surftohealth88
surftohealth88 | @surftohealth88 | Aug 5, 2025
In reply to @kenk1962 "Thank you -- good advice to follow. I purchased a TUDCA supplement today which I believe..." + (show)
Profile picture for kenk1962 @kenk1962

Thank you -- good advice to follow. I purchased a TUDCA supplement today which I believe should offer some liver support.

Jump to this post

I personally use Milk Thistle by "Life Extension" and here is some info about milk thistle :
https://www.pharmacist.com/Blogs/CEO-Blog/milk-thistle-for-liver-disease
I order that one on Amazon, but you can order it from LifeE. site too, sometimes they have promotions.

Also artichoke leaf is very beneficial and completely harmless :
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-842/artichoke
There are many manufacturers that you can find on Amazon.

I am sure that your liver will be "like new" in not time with some pampering ; ) ! < 3

REPLY
Profile picture for heavyphil
heavyphil | @heavyphil | Aug 6, 2025
In reply to @kenk1962 "Yes, I'm a reluctant member of the ADT fraternity club. There are so many unpleasant ADT..." + (show)
Profile picture for kenk1962 @kenk1962

Yes, I'm a reluctant member of the ADT fraternity club. There are so many unpleasant ADT side effects, but I hadn't previously heard about liver enzymes becoming compromised. Just when a person thinks they have read all there is on ADT difficulties I'm humbled to learn of another side effect.

Now that you mention that and have obviously experienced the climb in your own ALT levels, I suspect ADT is likely the culprit for me. I also received a response from my radiation oncologist this morning asserting SBRT prostate radiation should not impact liver enzymes. I see this is consistent with your experience too.

Thank you. I appreciate your follow-up and details.

Jump to this post

When my liver enzymes climbed during ADT, I bought Milk Thistle since it is great for liver support.
However, I decided not to use it since the rise was totally related to ADT and not from hepatitis or cirrhosis.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for Sicetnon3
Sicetnon3 | @sicernon3 | Aug 6, 2025
In reply to @kenk1962 "Thank you for your feedback. Judging from the responses in these posts it seems ADT is..." + (show)
Profile picture for kenk1962 @kenk1962

Thank you for your feedback. Judging from the responses in these posts it seems ADT is the likely cause of my liver enzymes elevation.

Good to hear your levels stabilized after modifying your Zytiga dose. Just curious -- was your revised lower dose able to keep your testosterone at an appropriate low level or was it more of a compromise to balance the need for you to maintain a healthier liver?

Jump to this post

Yes, it has remained at 0.0 for the past year after my dose was lowered to 750mg per day instead of 1000mg. per day.

REPLY
Profile picture for surftohealth88
surftohealth88 | @surftohealth88 | Aug 6, 2025
In reply to @heavyphil "When my liver enzymes climbed during ADT, I bought Milk Thistle since it is great for..." + (show)
Profile picture for heavyphil @heavyphil

When my liver enzymes climbed during ADT, I bought Milk Thistle since it is great for liver support.
However, I decided not to use it since the rise was totally related to ADT and not from hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Jump to this post

Milk Thistle is a liver tonic so it helps with detox and regeneration no matter what is causing liver to be upset.

I do not have ANY liver disease but I use it as a "tonic"- it helps liver work better, has antioxidant effects, helps with de-tox and it also helps with cholesterol and glucose levels regulation.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.