lymphoma or chronic EBV??

[carisa]

Hi,
I have been having night sweats off and on for the past four years. I will have them for several months, then they will go away for several months. My wbc has been low as well for the last couple of years. It flucuates between 3.0-4.0. I have always had energy until the last eight months. I have had EBV-mono two different times in the last seven years, I was diagnosed again with it about when my fatigue started eight months ago. My doctor sent me to a hematologist and he did a bone marrow biopsy because of the night sweats and lots of tiny swollen lymph nodes in my neck and goin. He said that they did not feel like typical lymphoma swollen lymph nodes, but almost like they were scarred that way from previous bouts of EBV-mono. They are also very small, like maybe even a little smaller than a pea. My bone marrow test came back normal and so did my chest xray. The hematologist says I don't need to worry. My doctor thinks that I have chronic EBV and chronic fatigue. My EBV numbers were the highest she has ever seen, in the 3,000 range.
My question is whether or not I should still be concerned about lymphoma? I tend to agree with my doctor, but in the back of my mind I am still a little concerned.
Carisa

[carisa]

Thank you Dennis for responding. I will definitely keep an eye out on my lymph nodes to make sure they do not get any bigger. I guess seeing that my bone marrow biopsy was good I should not be worrying so much unless something changes. Thanks.

Carisa

[Dennis MD]

Hi Carisa.
I understand your concern.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the virus involved in infectious mononucleosis.  This virus is also associated with several malignancies like nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphomas.
You had a biopsy done and it did not reveal presence of malignancy.  That’s great news.  You should, however, continue to observe your lymph nodes and report to your doctor any change you notice.
Good luck.

[carisa]

I've heard that, and it makes me nervous.

[justgotpaid]

I know that there is strong ties between lymphoma and EBV.  I believe your chances of developing lymphoma increase 4 fold with the presence of EBV.  So it is something to watch.

[carisa]

Just wanted to add one more thing. My lymph nodes have been this way for a couple of years and have never grown, just sort of stay the same size. I'm guessing this is a good sign, but again, I still am a little concerned....

Carisa