Inflammation's effects on cancer

This item was in the Oregonian today:

"A study on women from Seattle, Albuquerque and Los Angeles has found a link between chronic inflammation in the body and a women's risk of dying from breast cancer.

Women who had high levels of the two inflammation-related proteins after being treated for breast cancer were more than twice as likely to die from their cancers as women with lower levels of these proteins.  The more chronically inflamed women also were more prone to have their cancers return after treatment, researchers write in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

In the short run, inflammation is a helpful tool the body uses to fight off disease.  But long term or chronic inflammation can harm the body and has been lined to worse outcomes for ailments including heart disease, and cancers of the lungs, stomach, prostate and colon. 

The two proteins scientists tested for in this study, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, are thought to be signs of chronic inflammation.

It's not clear just how inflammation may worsen cancer or how well people can limit that harmful cycle.  but doctors note several generally healthy habits help lessen chronic inflammation, including eating well and exercising regularly."

I plan to ask for these two proteins levels to be checked when I see my
onc in a couple of weeks.