Lab Day, Liver Gold Stars, and Immune System Drama
🌼 Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
⚡ Energy: Cautiously optimistic with a side of germ paranoia
❤️🩹 Status: Liver is behaving, immune system is still on strike
😶🌫️ Outlook: I’ll be in the recliner, wearing pink and avoiding people
Today was bloodwork day.
Even though I am done with treatment, I still have to get labs done every 8 weeks because I’m back on Methotrexate, and my rheumatologist likes to keep an eye on my liver.
It’s an understanding she and I have.
I do the bloodwork to make her happy, and she keeps prescribing the meds that make the psoriasis stay away, which makes me happy.
Win/win.
Now, when doctors monitor your liver while you’re taking Methotrexate, they’re mainly looking at two kinds of things:
1. Signs of liver irritation or injury
These are the enzymes that can leak into your bloodstream if the liver gets irritated.
- ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
- AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
2. Signs of how well your liver is actually doing its job
These help show whether the liver is still performing the way it should.
- Albumin – a protein made by the liver
- Bilirubin – a waste product the liver helps process
- ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) – another enzyme that can help show what’s going on in there
So, now that we know what she’s looking for, let’s see how the old liver is doing.
Liver Function Results:
- ALT: 23 (normal is 10–35)
- AST: 26 (normal is 10–35)
- Albumin: 3.9 (normal is 3.5–5.2)
- Bilirubin: 0.2 (normal is ≤1.2)
- ALP: 43 (normal is 35–104)
Whew!
My liver numbers have bounced back pretty fast!
Nice job, liver. Nice job.
You understood the assignment.
Now for the numbers I have been watching a little too closely.
The numbers that have been tanking since December when I started chemo.
The numbers that basically determine whether I should be going out into the world like a normal person or sticking to my tried-and-true routine of home, doctor appointments, and my favorite Mexican restaurant.
The numbers that tell me whether I need one mask, two masks, antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, or maybe a full-body bubble.
Yes, friends, I’m talking about my immune system numbers.
Cue the dramatic music.
Here are the three big ones:
1. ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count)
This is the most important number when it comes to your immediate infection risk.
Neutrophils are the white blood cells that help fight off bacterial infections, and when this number is low, your body has a harder time protecting you.
2. WBC (White Blood Cell Count)
This is the total number of all your infection-fighting white blood cells combined.
Chemo is famous for knocking this number down, which is why I had to do those Granix shots after each infusion — remember those? Those miserable little bone-pain boosters were meant to help my counts recover.
3. Lymphocyte Count
These are another type of white blood cell, and they’re important for fighting viruses and helping your immune system rebuild itself after treatment.
So let’s see if my numbers are finally climbing back up.
I mean, it’s been 4 months since my last chemo infusion and 6 weeks since my last radiation treatment.
Surely we’re making a comeback by now, right?
Immune System Results:
- ANC: 1.38 (normal is 1.8–8.3)
- WBC: 2.35 (normal is 3.7–10.5)
- Lymphocyte Count: 0.41 (normal is 1–4.8)
Well slap me and put some sparkle in my poop.
These numbers are lower than when I was actively going through chemo infusions.
Lower.
As in: my body apparently looked at “recovery” and said, No thanks, I’d rather keep everyone guessing.
The doctor did warn me that my counts could continue to drop after radiation.
Well.
There it is.
Proof.
The numbers do not lie.
So, if anyone needs me, I will be over here in my recliner, continuing to avoid crowds, only going out if I have an appointment or we’re going to dinner.
And even then, the antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer are still living in my bag full time, and I will still be sporting my pink breast cancer awareness face masks like the stylish little germ-dodging queen that I am.
Because if I have to mask up, you know I’m at least going to do it in pink.
I bought a box of 300 on Amazon for only $8.99, so I think I’m set for a while.
Apparently my immune system is still on vacation, but at least my accessories are cute.
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💗 Tina –
One Badass Day at a Time
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