Your blood test report may indicate that you have cancer.

When you go to the hospital for a physical examination, a blood test is almost one of the must-check items. Faced with the dense numbers and arrows, many people may feel confused. However, there are some important health signals hidden in the blood test report, especially the abnormality of two indicators, which may indicate the risk of cancer.

Platelet count: a warning sign for cancer

Platelets are an important component of blood. If the human body is compared to an army, white blood cells are the frontline soldiers, red blood cells are the transport soldiers, and platelets are the logistics and maintenance team. Platelets play a vital role in the human body, including physiological and pathological processes such as hemostasis, wound healing, inflammatory response, and thrombosis.

A study published in the British Journal of General Practice found that platelet counts in the high normal range (326–400×10^9/L) in men over 60 years old may be a potential sign of malignant tumors. Another study published in the JAMA Netw Open also pointed out that people with very high platelet counts have a significantly increased risk of certain cancers, including colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, etc.

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Specific risks

Lung cancer: When the platelet count increases, the risk of lung cancer increases by 470%.

Colorectal cancer: When the platelet count is elevated, the risk of colorectal cancer increases by 390%.

People over 60 are at a higher risk! Therefore, when your platelet count increases (>400×10^9/L), you should be alert. But this does not mean that you will definitely get cancer, but you need further examination and doctor's advice. Don't panic.

Hemoglobin: May indicate a "precancerous state"

Hemoglobin is an important component of red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen to all tissues in the body. Low hemoglobin levels often indicate anemia, and some anemia is a "precancerous state" of the blood system.

For many malignant tumors, especially those of the blood system, more than 80% of patients will experience anemia in the early stages. Therefore, low hemoglobin may be an important indicator of early cancer.

Symptoms of anemia

1. Palpitations: Frequently feel discomfort or panic in your heartbeat. If you have no history of heart disease, you need to be alert.

2. Dizziness: Frequent feeling of lightheadedness and vertigo with clear consciousness may indicate anemia after excluding central nervous system diseases.

3. Loss of appetite: If you have a recent and unexplained loss of appetite, especially when accompanied by dizziness and palpitations, you should be more vigilant.

4. Paleness: Paleness of the lips, face, auricles, nails and palm lines (normal palm lines should be light red) may also indicate anemia.

Hemoglobin reference value

Men: 120-160 g/L

Women: 110-150 g/L

If you have anemia, you must go to the hospital for examination, especially if the anemia is difficult to explain by other diseases . Further examination may be needed to rule out the possibility of early cancer.

Warning signs of leukemia

Leukemia is a malignant tumor of the blood system and often appears in movies and TV shows. Many people panic when they see an arrow on the white blood cell count, but white blood cell counts exceeding normal values ​​do not mean leukemia. The risk of leukemia needs to be comprehensively analyzed based on the abnormalities of three indicators: white blood cell count, platelet count, and hemoglobin .

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If hemoglobin and platelets are low and the total white blood cell count is abnormally high or low , you need to be alert to leukemia and a bone marrow examination is recommended for further diagnosis.

Summarize

Arrows in a blood test report do not always indicate a problem. In many cases, the arrows are just slightly above or below the reference range, which is medically known as " critical values ." These critical values ​​may be affected by a variety of factors, such as strenuous exercise, gender, age, seasonal changes, sleep, diet, etc. Therefore, do not worry too much and it is best to follow the doctor's advice.

Finally, although routine blood tests cannot diagnose all diseases, they can provide important health clues. If your platelet count or hemoglobin index is abnormal, you should seek medical attention in time for further examination. Because no single test is omnipotent, the final diagnosis requires the doctor to make a comprehensive judgment based on other tests, medical history, and illness.

I hope this article can help you better understand the blood test report and pay attention to your health. If you have any questions, please leave a message in the comment area and we will do our best to answer them.

References

[1]Analysis of Platelet Count and New Cancer Diagnosis Over a 10-Year Period. JAMA Netw Open, 2022, 5(1): e2141633.

[2]Giannakeas V, Narod SA. Incidence of Cancer Among Adults With Thrombocytosis in Ontario, Canada. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Aug 2;4(8):e2120633.