Covid concerns

[Springwatertide]

Recent elevated WBC counts led me to the hematologists office for more blood work and a bone marrow biopsy. Original dx was presumed to be marginal zone lymphoma, but at my appt this week the oncologist said that it is CLL. I have a CT scan for staging at the end of the month.

I have been told to get up to date on my vaccinations, and have gotten flu and hep recently. I was due for a COVID booster, but unfortunately got COVID btw my first and second oncology appts. Luckily it was a very mild case, and now I need to wait a bit before boosting.

I have been team Pfizer since they first rolled out their covid shot, but recently came across some articles about sudden onset lymphoma following Pfizer vaccine. And now I am questioning all my life choices. No, not really, but seeing that study was very disheartening. And now I don't know if I should go with a different brand or what. Both my primary physician and my oncologist shrugged off my concerns, so I thought I would post here.

I think my first covid infection last October triggered latent EBV in my system, which I didn't know I had had until the blood work came back. So I really don't want to catch it again. But I am also nervous about using Pfizer after seeing the lymphoma connection. If I got Norovax this time, would I need a booster soon since I am changing brands? Does anyone have a data driven insight into this issue?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

I posted an article debunking the first claim about this disinformation campaign on turbo lymphoma a year ago healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

I've since seen further claims, which have also been debunked, with several anyalyses showing no change in cancer deaths other than what can be accounted by the impact of the pandemic on early detection and treatment. Of note, one disinformation spreader has invested in his own competing vaccine, which I have earlier reported on in this community. It's often very informative to look into possible conflicts of interest.

Neil

[Springwatertide in reply to AussieNeil]

Thanks for the link. I will check it out. I had seen a lot of writing on lymphoma trending higher since 2020, and personally thought that the virus itself is much more likely to be causative than the vaccine. I had not figured in missed care due to lockdown and just avoiding places where illness is like Dr's offices. Personally, I have antigens for EBV, so the idea that covid could be similar and have oncogenic effects doesn't feel like a reach. I am still on team vax, but unsure which version is the most effective for folks with CLL

[LeoPa in reply to Springwatertide]

I have high EBV antigens too. I never knew I contracted that virus in the past, must have been an asymptomatic infection or mild symptoms only. Could it have caused the CLL? Not entirely out of question perhaps. I did not have covid so far though.

[Springwatertide in reply to LeoPa]

I also have no idea when I had EBV. Nothing in my memory stands out as possibly that, and I also wonder if I had an asymptomatic case. Congrats on avoiding covid! I managed 2 years before my teen brought it home from school.

[bennevisplace in reply to Springwatertide]

Hi. About 95 percent of the global population has EBV antigens, mostly without having had any obvious symptoms. Primary infection in children can sometimes be serious, and in young adults manifests as mononucleosis aka mono or glandular fever. Once you catch it EBV stays in your system for life, and, like certain other viruses of the herpes group can reactivate when your immune defences are low to make you feel ill webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/can...

[SofiaDeo]

I read about a rare instance of a doctor's immune system stimulation from vaccination (which happened to be Pfizer) aggravating his already diagnosed lymphoma. I read another case study of someone with MZL having their disease aggravated, as well as one where a pseudo-lymphoma occurred.

We know that anything that "stimulates the immune system" has the possibility of doing things like these. The numbers still say, get vaccinated. Long Covid happens much much more often than severe adverse Covid vaccine reactions.