Ah. The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. Or the Comp Metabolic Panel. Or the CMP.
I knew that if you had managed to make it through the CBC post, you’d be waiting with bated breath for this one. I hate to disappoint, so here we go!
What is it? Basically it is a measure of your metabolism. When most people think metabolism, they think of it speeding up or slowing down, but for a doctor, it’s more a look at how your patient is functioning. Are their kidneys and liver okay? Are they having any sort of imbalances in their system? Is their blood sugar normal?
The components of the CMP include:
Total Protein - Means: This measures all the proteins in serum. Simply put, serum is what is left after your blood clots. It’s not a blood cell. - Range: 6.4-8.9
Albumin - Means: A wee protein that’s made in the liver. - Range: 3.5-5.7
Globulin - Means: Proteins that are made in the liver. They are pretty important. They are involved in the functioning of the liver, but also are important in blood clotting and fighting infection. The scariest thing during cancer treatment? Infections. - Range - 23-35
A/G Ratio - Albumin/Globulin Ratio. Means: The ratio of albumin to globulin. It’s helping to track liver or kidney stuff.
ALT - Stands for: Alanine Aminotrans. - Means: An enzyme found in the liver and kidneys. This is used to test for liver damage. The worst possible side effect seen on my clinical trial was someone who died from liver failure, although it is uncertain if the drug caused it or if there was some underlying cause. Anyway, I’m not drinking while on it. No problem! - Range - 7-52
AST - Stands for: Aspartate Aminotransferase. - Means: An enzyme in the heart and liver. Also good for detecting liver damage. - Range: 13-39
Alkaline Phosphatase - Means: Another one of those liver enzymes. If it’s high, though, it can be liver function issues *or* something is up with your bones. This is important because one of the rare side effects is acute myeloid leukemia. This is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Want to avoid that, methinks. - Range - 34-104
Total Bilirubin - Means: This is a waste product created by the liver as it breaks down - and recycles! - cells. Good to know our bodies are environmentally conscious. - Range - 0.3-1.0
Urea Nitrogen - Means: This is a measurement of nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea, a waste product. I’m often impressed by the naming of these things. How creative! Anyway, this is testing for damage to the liver. We want it to be normal. - Range: 7-25
Creatinine - Means: - A waste product from muscles. The kidneys filter it, so it helps measure kidney function. Range: 0.6-1.3
BUN/Creatinine Ratio - Stands for: Blood Urea Nitrogen/Creatinine Ratio - Means: The ratio BUN to creatinine in the blood. Yep. If it’s too high, it could mean dehydration or congestive heart failure. These things are bad. - Range: 8.0-20.0
Glucose - Means: Your body’s energy source. This should be pretty stable. Not too high. Not too low. Just right! - Range: 70-105
Sodium - Means: It’s an electrolyte that helps balance water inside and around cells. Too much or too little is bad. - Range: 136-145
Potassium - Means: It’s a mineral! It helps your body keep the fluid balance spot on while also helping with contracting muscles and nerve signalling. It’s important because it helps you retain the right amount of water and can keep your blood pressure down. Get enough and you can avoid exciting things like strokes and kidney stones! Range: 3.5-5.1
Chloride - Means: It’s an electrolyte that helps with regulation of fluid in the body. - Range: 98-107
Carbon Dioxide - Means: It’s a byproduct of, oh, breathing. It does help maintain balance in your body. Too much is bad. Too little and you’re probably in a higher altitude or at an oxygen bar. - Range: 21.0-31.0
Calcium - Means: An important mineral. You know? Drink your milk! I don’t drink milk, but you can get calcium from other sources, such as cheese! It’s important for, oh, muscles, heart (hint: the heart is a muscle), bones. That kind of thing. - Range: 8.6-10.3
GFR Estimate - Stands for: Glomerular Filtration Rate. Means: An estimate of your kidney function. Pretty important. - Range: 90-120
Note: This test must be adjusted for race. If a person is African-American, the estimated GFR must be multiplied by a factor of 1.21 per a note on my chart. Mine is not adjusted as I am near-translucent white, especially in the winter.
My AST was low on the most recent test, and before that, my ALT as well. But overall everything has been in the normal range, so that is good. Please do keep in mind that depending on which doctor you are seeing, the ranges I’ve outlined above may be slightly different. My body doesn’t appear to know that it’s got cancer. That is why my type of cancer could have been an even worse problem if I had not been getting tests regularly due to family history. If it had been evident through physical examination or showing up in blood tests, I’d probably be stage 3 or later. Stage 3 is where the cancer has started to metastasize, or spread, throughout the body.
See? I. Am. Lucky.