High ESR, S T Protein, S Globluin = Cancer?!
Question: Hello,
I had my upper-left wisdom tooth taken out last week and upper-right wisdom tooth taken out this week. It was just a simple operation at the dentist since my teeth have already come out.
My dentist noticed swelling on my neck during my second surgery (this week). I went to see the doctor. I had a blood test taken and the results were:
ESR = 29 (1-10)
S T Protein = 86 (60-80)
S Globulin = 43 (20-36)
I also have some lymph nodes swelling. The GP said he was fairly confident that this has to do with infection, rather than lymphoma cancer. He gave me some antibiotics to see how it goes.
What's everybody's thoughts? Good chance of cancer? I have no symptoms such as night sweats, weight loss etc... But I just can't get this thing out of my mind.
Answers: Hello,
I had my upper-left wisdom tooth taken out last week and upper-right wisdom tooth taken out this week. It was just a simple operation at the dentist since my teeth have already come out.
My dentist noticed swelling on my neck during my second surgery (this week). I went to see the doctor. I had a blood test taken and the results were:
ESR = 29 (1-10)
S T Protein = 86 (60-80)
S Globulin = 43 (20-36)
I also have some lymph nodes swelling. The GP said he was fairly confident that this has to do with infection, rather than lymphoma cancer. He gave me some antibiotics to see how it goes.
What's everybody's thoughts? Good chance of cancer? I have no symptoms such as night sweats, weight loss etc... But I just can't get this thing out of my mind.
You're jumping to conclusions and getting all upset in the process. An ESR is a very poor diagnostic test and is just an inflammatory marker. Many cancer patients will have ESR's above 80, post surgery patients can go as high as 130 and arthritis patients almost alway have an ESR over 40. So you can see it's not that accurate. T protein is total protein. You subtract albumin to get globulins. Globulins are elevated in a variety of conditions including inflammation, infection, hepatitis, HIV, malignancy. Again, see how non specific it is. So try to calm down. If this information doesn't help then discuss a fine needle biopsy with your dr. He will probably be quite reticent to do one, as would I, but if the antibiotics don't work and the swelling doesn't go down, then this is the next step. Oh.....don't poke and prod at your lymph nodes.