Assessing Your Inflammation Status in breast cancer survivors

Assessing Your Inflammation Status in breast cancer survivors

Other than some obvious signs—puffy gums, sore joints, chronic nasal stuffiness—
how can you tell if your inflammation levels are higher than they should be?
Several tests can be useful here.

C-Reactive Protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a powerful inflammation marker. The production of
CRP is an indispensable part of the inflammation process, and its measurement
mirrors the level of inflammation in the body. We believe that measuring
inflammation with a high-sensitivity CRP test (HS-CRP), a simple blood test, is one
of the most important steps you can take if you have had cancer. If the results are
elevated, above 1.0, then it’s time to take action to bring down your CRP levels. You
might want to retest at three-month intervals. If you don’t have cancer but have risk
factors, you might consider having the test run on an annual basis as part of your
regular physical exam. Some practitioners like to look at other inflammatory
markers. A complete inflammatory profile might include, interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta,
interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).

Fibrinogen

Fibrinogen is a protein produced by the liver that helps the blood to clot
properly. Its levels increase in reaction to inflammation, so if inflammation levels
are high, it may be wise to check fibrinogen levels as well. We recommend that
fibrinogen levels range between 215 and 300 milligrams per deciliter of blood.
Bringing levels into normal range has the added benefit of keeping the blood
flowing more smoothly, making it more difficult for metastases to develop.

Food Sensitivity Panel

If your inflammatory markers remain stubbornly high, consider the possibility
of food allergies or sensitivities. Common allergens like casein (from dairy) and
gluten (from wheat) are known to spark an inflammatory cascade in sensitive
individuals. So, one way to cool inflammation on a cellular level is to pay attention
to foods that may cause headaches, digestive upset, or skin eruptions, like acne or
eczema. Keep in mind that as we age, foods that may not have bothered us before,
like dairy and wheat, may trigger chronic low-grade inflammation. Even seemingly
innocuous foods, when eaten repeatedly, can cause a food sensitivity to develop. If
you think you might have a food sensitivity, we recommend going on an
elimination diet for two weeks to see how you feel. We deal with the specifics of this
later in the chapter. You might also consider doing a food allergy panel through one
of the labs listed in appendix B, available through your nutritionist or other holistic
practitioner.