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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / September 2006c-reactive protein and cancer
I've read that c-reactive protein is highly senstive, but non-specific. My wife's last HC CRP was 8.16 She's getting a heart scan next Saturday; after that we'll be seeing our internist. I just wondered if anyone had experience with the HS c-reactive protein, and if it turned out to be elevated because of cancer, or other causes. I've seen some info that levels above 20 or so were due to bc recurrence, but not much else. Here are the details: My wife is a bc survivor -- 1994 . She's 56 now. She is on a statin, and being followed for cholesterol. Her last c-reactive protein was 8.16 - 8/28. Before starting statins in 5/03 it was 5.52, then in 2/05 it was 4.48. Her triglycerides also were higher last time: 246 versus 167 in 2/05, and 97 in 7/03. Internist didn't seem worried about the triglycerides. I might add she had her yearly visit to her oncologist and blood work from July 28th was normal, including CEA, CA 127 and CA27.29. Also, she had a breast MRI on 8/21, two weeks before the blood pull for the CRP. The breast MRI involved an injection of a contrast agent. Does anyone have experience with a test like that raising CRP ? Is it possible something like type 2 diabetes could start by raising CRP ? Her glucose has been borderline; last time it was 101. As I said, we'll see our internist after the heart scan -- and if my wife thinks it's necessary -- her oncologist or a cardiologist -- but right now I'm sort of nervous. Any advice or experience would be appreciated. Thanks, Ed Ed Kratz wrote: > II've seen some info that levels above 20 or so were due to bc recurrence, > but not much else. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > or a cardiologist -- but right now I'm sort of nervous. > Any advice or experience would be appreciated. Ed, looks to me that your wife's CRP is in a healthy range and far from the 100mg/L level.(see website below) I regret that nobody answered your query on the breast cancer newsgroup. I have more to say about this, I think inflammation can be involved in cancer. It can also be involved with arthritis and sometimes a bone scan can't tell the difference between bone met or arthritis; so what I would do with this report, is save it and if there's pain, have the CRP run again. That might help an oncologist gauge whether arthritis has been creeping in, to your wife's picture. So in sequence, the heart specialist gives opinion (and/or changes medicines)., if there's been a significant CRP change If the CRP creeps up (to or around 100 mg/L), assuming the person is not on an anti-inflammatory, in the days or week before the bloodwork, scan is run for arthritis. And locations are noted. If there's pain, pain locations are compared to arthritic locations, by the oncologist. Anti-inflammatory is tried to see if it helps the pain. However **** I have OA and anti-inflammatories barely touch the pain. How I know if it's OA causing the pain is if there's redness, swelling and/or icing helps. If icing did not help, I'd lean toward bone met. However, weather changes can cause a flareup, so I wouldn't be running to an oncoloigst that quickly. First, I'd spend some time in a warm sunny place and if the pain persisted, with the icing and pain medications and if the pain worsened or persisted, then i'd consult the onc. That's my opinion, and i'm not a doctor, so rely on yours. But if your wife gets arthritis and you decide to go on holiday in some warm, dry place, please take me with you. <g> Best wishes, (and watch for Steph's, or others' reply, either correcting me or directly to you). J http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/crp/test.html A high or increasing amount of CRP in your blood suggests that you have an acute infection or inflammation. In a healthy person, CRP is usually less than 10 mg/L. Most infections and inflammations result in CRP levels above 100 mg/L. If the CRP level in your blood drops, it means that you are getting better and inflammation is being reduced. When your results fall below 10 mg/L, you no longer have clinically active inflammation. J, Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate them. I wish you good luck with your OA. Ed > Ed Kratz wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] > When your results fall below 10 mg/L, you no longer have clinically active > inflammation. Ed Kratz wrote: > Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate them. > I wish you good luck with your OA. Thank you, Ed. In hindsight, I guess my reply should have been, ask the internist who ran the test, why it was run and what it means. We aren't there to know if your wife mentioned pain (or not). I would ask a doctor why they're ordering a test. If tests are run for no good reason, in my view, the only people who gain are the laboratories. I suppose just once, for CRP, is good for a baseline (for future), but if each doctor orders same tests (or other tests for no good reason), all it does it enrich someone else, and cause questions and worry for the patient and/or family. (is how I see it). Best wishes. May your wife remain cancer free and both of you, in good health. PS It's not mentioned at SEER http://training.seer.cancer.gov/module_diagnostic/unit03_tumor_markers.html J I wonder if the test is http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hscrp/glance.html. It can be used as predictor of heart disease which the doctor seems more concerned since that is an active issue. ( High lipids). You may have better luck having your question answered in a cardiology forum. Or even better ask her doctor. Interesting question. I just had that test as part of a workup at Umich Hospital (I have Crohn's Disease). My number was 1.0 and they considered that elevated (0-.6 is normal range). However, they are clearly not making a big deal of it or following anything up quicker due to that number (I have a variety of tests scheduled to be done whenever I want but before my colonoscopy on 12/8). I'm sure if they were worried they would have scheduled things sooner. ALSO I CURRENTLY HAVE A VERY BAD INFECTION (started as a sore throat 8 days ago).I had to see doctor yesterday as it has gone into my chest and I'm coughing/wheezing. Not good for my job (college Math Professor!). Anyway, I got tonsilltis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and heading towards pneumonia. I started antibiotics last night (amoxicillan). Hopefully that will nip it now. I hate having NO energy and can sure sympathize with this of you on chemo/radiation. Yesterday I was so drained that I would sit in bed and it seemed I would blink and 2 hours had passed by. I was not asleep, just in a daze. Mel > I've read that c-reactive protein is highly senstive, but non-specific. > My wife's last HC CRP was 8.16 [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Thanks, > Ed > Interesting question. I just had that test as part of a workup at Umich > Hospital (I have Crohn's Disease). [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Mel Hope you feel better soon, Mel. J I hope you feel better, also. Ed > Interesting question. I just had that test as part of a workup at Umich > Hospital (I have Crohn's Disease). [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] >> Thanks, >> Ed |
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