• A groundbreaking study by renowned researcher Alan B. MacDonald reveals a hidden link between Lyme disease and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a slow-growing blood cancer.
• The study found that some people had Borrelia (Lyme) infections in their blood for three years before being diagnosed with CLL, even though they didn’t have any symptoms.
• The study discovered new findings, such as Borrelia bacteria getting into both healthy and cancerous white blood cells, highlighting the need to better understand the connection between Lyme disease and other health issues for more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Introduction: Uncovering a Surprising Connection Between Lyme Disease and Blood Cancer
Imagine the shock when a groundbreaking study, published in the Journal of Clinical Review and Case Reports on May 15, 2023, unveils a hidden link between Lyme disease and cancer. In the eye-opening research, “Invasion of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Bloodstream Tumor Cells by Borrelia Spirochetes,” renowned researcher Alan B. MacDonald reveals astonishing insights into the connection between Lyme disease and CLL, a slow-growing blood cancer.

The Study: Examining a CLL Patient with Borrelia Infections
In this study, Dr. MacDonald investigated the case of a 66-year-old woman with a family history of breast cancer and CLL. The patient had gradual onset of axillary lymph node enlargement (swelling of lymph nodes in her armpit area) in 2019, and subsequent tests confirmed a CLL diagnosis. Interestingly, the patient was found to have asymptomatic Borrelia (Lyme) infections in her bloodstream, including both Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi.

Findings: Lyme Infections Before CLL Diagnosis
The study found that the patient had Lyme infections in her blood without showing any symptoms three years before being diagnosed with CLL. Blood tests from 2016 using a special technique called Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) showed that Lyme bacteria were sticking to a special type of white blood cell that helps fight infections. In 2022, when the patient’s white blood cells turned cancerous, the tests still showed an ongoing infection with two types of Lyme bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi).

Significance: Unprecedented Observations in CLL and Lyme Infections
This study shares some new discoveries about the connection between Borrelia (Lyme) and blood cancer (CLL):

1. Some people had Borrelia infections in their blood for three years before being diagnosed with CLL, even though they didn’t have any symptoms.
2. One person with CLL was found to have two different types of Borrelia bacteria in their blood at the same time.
3. Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria were seen sticking to and entering healthy white blood cells, something that was only seen in labs before.
4. Borrelia bacteria were also seen entering cancerous white blood cells, which is a completely new finding.
5. Borrelia miyamotoi infections have been found in patients with a specific type of blood cancer, but this is the first time they’ve been shown to actually enter the cancerous cells.
6. Groups of Borrelia bacteria were found in patients’ blood samples, both before and after developing leukemia, and these groups have been linked to cancer in other cases.

Summary: Borrelia Implications Beyond Lyme
A groundbreaking study by Dr. Alan B. MacDonald investigates the link between Lyme disease and a slow-growing blood cancer called Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). The research looked at a 66-year-old woman with CLL who had Lyme bacteria in her blood without any symptoms, three years before being diagnosed with CLL. The study discovered new findings, such as Lyme bacteria getting into both healthy and cancerous white blood cells. This highlights the need to better understand the connection between Lyme disease and other health issues for more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

About the Author: Dr. Alan B. MacDonald
As an expert in Lyme disease and tick-borne illness complications, Dr. MacDonald has made several appearances on the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, discussing this groundbreaking study (PDF) and more. He is known for his cutting-edge research on Lyme disease and tick-borne illness complications. His research emphasizes the importance of understanding the link between Lyme disease and other medical conditions, such as CLL, to better diagnose and treat patients affected by these illnesses.

Photo Description
The featured photo in this blog post depicts a lymphocyte cancer cell with two Lyme disease spirochetes attached. More specifically: “Immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibody CB10 specific for protein OSP A of borrelia burgdorferi group sl spirochetes. Two borrelia spirochetes (black arrows) are attached to a large caliber leukemic lymphocyte. Magnification 1000x original.”