Toxo and Lymphoma

ShadyGuy
ShadyGuy Member Posts: 896 Member

In the USA about 20% of the population tests positive for latent toxoplasmosis. In Western Europe, where eating raw meat is considered sophisticated, the infection rate jumps to 55%. In eastern Europe and Brazil it is estimated to be 70%-80%. Those folks are beginning to take this parasite quite  seriously. It is an important finding that, statisically, people testing positive for latent toxo are more likely to get lymphoma. This is thought by some to be because the toxo cysts in the brain (they stay there for life) are shown to interfere with normal cell apoptosis. A lot of research is going on in Ukraine and Czech Republic into the affect of toxo on human behavior. Some of the outcomes are astonishing to me. For example, most people with schizophrenia test positive for latent toxo.This has all come about after the discovery a few years back that CNS lymphoma and some toxo infections are almost indistinguishable from each other. People with toxo were being treated for lymphoma. Like CNS lymphoma some toxo infections even cause the salmon colored growth in the eyes. Another amazing discovery which might be of interest to anyone with refractive lymphoma is its similarity to malaria. The two parasites causing these disease are almost identical. People who have refractive lymphoma and malaria tend to see their disease re-sensitized to chemo when treated with antimalarial drugs. In the Czech Republic they are going to have trials where people with refractive lymphoma but no malaria are treated with anti-malarial drugs to see how many have their lymphoma re-sensitized to standard treatments.

Are toxoplasmosis gondii and several similar parasites a major force in human evolution? Time will tell.

If you mention this to your oncologist you will probably get a bewildered look and a smirk. It may be hype but I thought it worth mentioning on this rainy foggy Sunday morning.

 

 

Comments

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    Completely Believable

    I don't doubt that anything you speculate on here (regarding a lymphoma linkage) is true. Toxoplasmosis is the sort of thing that could fly under the diagnostic radar for for decades, and never be suspected for anything. I reminds me a little of Lyme Disease, which can kill. But people with clear Lyme Disease symptoms are very seldom checked for it, at least until they have been sick a long time. A friend who has been a trapper for at least 20 years got it about 7 years ago, and it very nearly killed him. Even with his personal background his GP did no test for it until very late in the process.

    Fatigue is the main symptom of toxo. And fatigue is the most common complaint in America. How many people are tested for toxo as a cause of it ?  Close to none, I'm sure.  The schizophrenic link is also intriguing.  Schizophrenia usually does not show itself until at least adolescence, and sometimes later than that, which would suggest a possible environmental causality.

    Articles claim periodically that gum inflammation (or other forms of inflammation) is the real, hidden cause of heart disease, not deposits. And plenty of people with clear arteries have heart attacks, and some people with significant calcifications (blockages) never have a heart attack. I don't doubt inflammation as the cause.  My father-in-law had his first heart attack at 38, and had one every decade therafter until his final one killed him at 67.  And he never had high cholesterol or triglycerides, and had no congenital problems that any cardiologist could find. How did cardiologists treat him ? With statins: meds to lower cholesterol

    People claim "the truth will out."  It just takes so damn long.

    max

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 896 Member

    Completely Believable

    I don't doubt that anything you speculate on here (regarding a lymphoma linkage) is true. Toxoplasmosis is the sort of thing that could fly under the diagnostic radar for for decades, and never be suspected for anything. I reminds me a little of Lyme Disease, which can kill. But people with clear Lyme Disease symptoms are very seldom checked for it, at least until they have been sick a long time. A friend who has been a trapper for at least 20 years got it about 7 years ago, and it very nearly killed him. Even with his personal background his GP did no test for it until very late in the process.

    Fatigue is the main symptom of toxo. And fatigue is the most common complaint in America. How many people are tested for toxo as a cause of it ?  Close to none, I'm sure.  The schizophrenic link is also intriguing.  Schizophrenia usually does not show itself until at least adolescence, and sometimes later than that, which would suggest a possible environmental causality.

    Articles claim periodically that gum inflammation (or other forms of inflammation) is the real, hidden cause of heart disease, not deposits. And plenty of people with clear arteries have heart attacks, and some people with significant calcifications (blockages) never have a heart attack. I don't doubt inflammation as the cause.  My father-in-law had his first heart attack at 38, and had one every decade therafter until his final one killed him at 67.  And he never had high cholesterol or triglycerides, and had no congenital problems that any cardiologist could find. How did cardiologists treat him ? With statins: meds to lower cholesterol

    People claim "the truth will out."  It just takes so damn long.

    max

    Sorry for being off topic ...

    but I found the Czech study so fascinating that I read the entire study in one sitting. By the way Max, gum inflammation is a common symptom of toxo. i would love to see this whole topic studied more. It would require an “out of the box” researcher. Refractive lymphoma linked to a common parasitic infection? Fascinating. Toxo causing an absent or abnormally low fear response? Fascinating. “He/she is not brave, he/she just has toxo” lol.

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    ShadyGuy said:

    Sorry for being off topic ...

    but I found the Czech study so fascinating that I read the entire study in one sitting. By the way Max, gum inflammation is a common symptom of toxo. i would love to see this whole topic studied more. It would require an “out of the box” researcher. Refractive lymphoma linked to a common parasitic infection? Fascinating. Toxo causing an absent or abnormally low fear response? Fascinating. “He/she is not brave, he/she just has toxo” lol.

    Or...

    Or as in, "Ignore my wife. She's really tox(-ic)."     Surprised. Use left and right arrows to navigate.

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 896 Member
    Latent toxo and refractive lymphoma

    I know just a little knowledge is dangerous so please take this information as unproven. I mentioned in a previous post that people with both refractive lymphoma and latent (inactive) toxoplasmosis have been shown to have their lymphoma re-sensitized to conventional treatments after being treated with anti-malarial drugs. The drugs mentioned are called JPC-2056 and JPC-2067-B . This might be worth looking at if you have refractive lymphoma and latent or active toxoplasmosis. 20-30% of the US population test positive for toxo antibodies.

    When I was young I had toxoplasmosis which I probably caught from my Dad’s commercial rabbit operations. We also had cats. I now test positive for toxo antibodies. I know its a longshot but if my FNHL ever becomes refractive I plan to look into anti-malarial treatments. Right now there is no solid scientific data confirming this connection but it is worth watching. The circumstantial (anecdotal) evidence is pretty convincing.Look at the evidence and decide for yourself.

  • Ali-junejo
    Ali-junejo Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2018 #6
    I had toxo and later hodgkin’s lymphoma

    hi there,

    just registered here, i would share my experience that might help. 10 years back in 2008 I was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis which effected my eye and later I recovered. Now in 2018 I am diagnosed with hodgkin’s lymphoma, my treatment is going and I am done with 2 cycles. It is an stage 4 effecting my lungs and liver a little. after chemotherapy I am feeling good and gained some weight but I am worried about the cause of this disease. Is it toxoplasmosis that caused it however, I do not have toxoplasmosis in my brain. Your suggesion and advise might help me fighting off this disease and treat other factors causing lymphoma.

     

    regards,

    ali

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    Causality

    Welcome to you, Ali.

    The causes of Hodgkin's Disease are little known. In virtually all cases, why a person gets it cannot be identified.  Diet, genetics, and environmental factors have no clear linkage to its causality.  Some factors, like Epstein-Barr virus seem more coincidentally related than causally related.  I have not looked into what, if any, linkage there may be between toxo and the disease.

    Hodgkins is prone to delayed relapse, so that is now for you and me a risk factor going forward.

    At Stage IV I assume you are probably getting six cycles (12 infusions) of ABVD. If you treatment is something different, I would be interested in hearing what your doctors are using.

    max

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    ShadyGuy said:

    Latent toxo and refractive lymphoma

    I know just a little knowledge is dangerous so please take this information as unproven. I mentioned in a previous post that people with both refractive lymphoma and latent (inactive) toxoplasmosis have been shown to have their lymphoma re-sensitized to conventional treatments after being treated with anti-malarial drugs. The drugs mentioned are called JPC-2056 and JPC-2067-B . This might be worth looking at if you have refractive lymphoma and latent or active toxoplasmosis. 20-30% of the US population test positive for toxo antibodies.

    When I was young I had toxoplasmosis which I probably caught from my Dad’s commercial rabbit operations. We also had cats. I now test positive for toxo antibodies. I know its a longshot but if my FNHL ever becomes refractive I plan to look into anti-malarial treatments. Right now there is no solid scientific data confirming this connection but it is worth watching. The circumstantial (anecdotal) evidence is pretty convincing.Look at the evidence and decide for yourself.

    Francis

    If you are back from your travels and in eastern NC, Shady, I hope you and your property are ok. We are getting pounded here from it today...

    max

  • Ali-junejo
    Ali-junejo Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2018 #9

    Causality

    Welcome to you, Ali.

    The causes of Hodgkin's Disease are little known. In virtually all cases, why a person gets it cannot be identified.  Diet, genetics, and environmental factors have no clear linkage to its causality.  Some factors, like Epstein-Barr virus seem more coincidentally related than causally related.  I have not looked into what, if any, linkage there may be between toxo and the disease.

    Hodgkins is prone to delayed relapse, so that is now for you and me a risk factor going forward.

    At Stage IV I assume you are probably getting six cycles (12 infusions) of ABVD. If you treatment is something different, I would be interested in hearing what your doctors are using.

    max

    Stage IV cycles

    hi max,

    yes I have to go through 6 cycles of ABVD.I am done with 2 cycles and after 3 they will repeat PET/CT.

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member

    Stage IV cycles

    hi max,

    yes I have to go through 6 cycles of ABVD.I am done with 2 cycles and after 3 they will repeat PET/CT.

    Yes

    The PET scan after 3 infusions is to determine how well the medicine is working. The doctor does NOT expect it to be cured yet, just a dramatic reduction in size.

    ABVD almost always drives HL into complete remission.  But it is harsh, and gets harsher as more infusions have been received.

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 896 Member

    I had toxo and later hodgkin’s lymphoma

    hi there,

    just registered here, i would share my experience that might help. 10 years back in 2008 I was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis which effected my eye and later I recovered. Now in 2018 I am diagnosed with hodgkin’s lymphoma, my treatment is going and I am done with 2 cycles. It is an stage 4 effecting my lungs and liver a little. after chemotherapy I am feeling good and gained some weight but I am worried about the cause of this disease. Is it toxoplasmosis that caused it however, I do not have toxoplasmosis in my brain. Your suggesion and advise might help me fighting off this disease and treat other factors causing lymphoma.

     

    regards,

    ali

    Ali

    - please pardon my slow response. I am traveling And working from a cellphone.

    As I tried to explain in my original post, there is a statistical link between toxo and lymphoma. By that I mean people who have had toxo appear to be more likely to be afflicted with lymphoma than people who have not had toxo. There is no clinical proof of the link. You can pm me and I will send you some links to info on the topic. Best of luck.i remember well how sick I was with toxo as a child.

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 896 Member

    Francis

    If you are back from your travels and in eastern NC, Shady, I hope you and your property are ok. We are getting pounded here from it today...

    max

    Good luck Max

    who is Francis? I am in Alaska but our rental management agent says our house appears to be ok with only a small amount of minor damage. I am most concerned about our dock. Hope you are not getting flooded out.

  • Calisurvivor
    Calisurvivor Member Posts: 6 Member

    Where are all the long range side effect survivors of cobalt radiation? I was diagnosed with Hodgkins in the mid 60's in california. after a few cobalt radiation exposures i was clear and here i am now, however, the long range side effects are suddenly all catching up with me. Anyone find a doctor who knows about what to do about these side effects? stem cells? near infrared therapy? i am going downhill at an alarming rate and need help, but there are absolutely no doctors interested in researching options. any suggestions, anywhere in USA is ok, or the world for that matter. Thanks.

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 896 Member

    Calisurvivor

    So sorry no one has responded to your query. I suggest a new query as the topic of this 4-year old post may confuse some people. I will in fact start one for you! Good luck in your search for answers.

  • PBL
    PBL Member Posts: 366 Member

    Hi,

    There are some occasional appearances by long-term Hodgkin's survivors with late effects from treatments.

    You may also want to look at other areas of these forums, such as here:

    I hope you can find some answers and solutions to your current issues.

  • Calisurvivor
    Calisurvivor Member Posts: 6 Member

    Not interested in someone else's current diagnosis that does not pertain to long range cobalt radiation. Thanks for writing, but the obvious thing is that the posts are from 2008 at the latest. where is everyone? are the gone? dying? what happened? are the any doctors in the USA or the world who know anything about this???