Having more in common than we'd like!

I found this (I hope there's no problem copying something, this is just for informative reasons):

Laboratory tests are not always foolproof. For various reasons, false-positive and false-negative results can occur for any test. However, the laboratory tests for EBV are for the most part accurate and specific. Because the antibody response in primary EBV infection appears to be quite rapid, in most cases testing paired acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples will not demonstrate a significant change in antibody level. Effective laboratory diagnosis can be made on a single acute-phase serum sample by testing for antibodies to several EBV-associated antigens simultaneously. In most cases, a distinction can be made as to whether a person is susceptible to EBV, has had a recent infection, has had infection in the past, or has a reactivated EBV infection.

Antibodies to several antigen complexes may be measured. These antigens are the viral capsid antigen, the early antigen, and the EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA). In addition, differentiation of immunoglobulin G and M subclasses to the viral capsid antigen can often be helpful for confirmation. When the "mono spot" test is negative, the optimal combination of EBV serologic testing consists of the antibody titration of four markers: IgM and IgG to the viral capsid antigen, IgM to the early antigen, and antibody to EBNA.

IgM to the viral capsid antigen appears early in infection and disappears within 4 to 6 weeks. IgG to the viral capsid antigen appears in the acute phase, peaks at 2 to 4 weeks after onset, declines slightly, and then persists for life. IgG to the early antigen appears in the acute phase and generally falls to undetectable levels after 3 to 6 months. In many people, detection of antibody to the early antigen is a sign of active infection, but 20% of healthy people may have this antibody for years.

Antibody to EBNA determined by the standard immunofluorescent test is not seen in the acute phase, but slowly appears 2 to 4 months after onset, and persists for life. This is not true for some EBNA enzyme immunoassays, which detect antibody within a few weeks of onset.

Finally, even when EBV antibody tests, such as the early antigen test, suggest that reactivated infection is present, this result does not necessarily indicate that a patient's current medical condition is caused by EBV infection. A number of healthy people with no symptoms have antibodies to the EBV early antigen for years after their initial EBV infection.

Therefore, interpretation of laboratory results is somewhat complex and should be left to physicians who are familiar with EBV testing and who have access to the entire clinical picture of a person. To determine if EBV infection is associated with a current illness, consult with an experienced physician.

It's honest of her to mention the difference in considerating men's and women's complaints, but that's just terrible (understatement). It's not up to me to judge her, but her being an oncologist you would think she would know more about EBV (that is found in different cancers).

I've been thinking about you Lymer, how was the appoint with the oncologist?

Marie

First of all, I would just like to say that comparing cases (especially if it's about cancers) is something I'm always carefull with. I can tell the things that were found in my case, but it is not necessarely the case for others. Since EBV is so widely spread, almost everyone had it at some point in their life, the percentage of those infected people developping lymphoma is so low.

If I were you, I would try not to worry too much, an oncologist has a lot of experience and recognizes a lot of symptoms right away.

I was diagnosed very quickly, we had a friend dr (traumatologist, of all specialities) to whom my parents explained my case, he referred us to an internist - we read the reports afterwards, the traumatologist already suggested the internist about a cancer. I think I was diagnosed within a week. Then they had to do biopsies to determine the stage I was in, that took a bit longer, but all went very quickly.

Finding the lymphoma was not done after seeing the EBV in the biopsy, I was already diagnosed before the biopsy. Only the clinical symptoms I was showing gave the drs the idea of HL.

I wouldn't worry about the swollen glands, I get them very regularly, when I'm pushing my body too far. They didn't show up on my body when I had the lymphoma, that I remember very well.

It's been a long time since I was diagnosed, I don't know if anything has changed meanwhile.

My thoughts: I would not worry too much, really! Oncologists know what they're doing. Worrying all the time asks for so much energy...