Blood tests for diagnosing cancers, etc.?

[ploggin]

Not that I think I have cancer (although I don't feel well), but I was thinking about this blood work that doctors do as a first line to evaluating your symptoms, and wondering exactly how reliable it really is.  If the bloodwork shows something is awry, then they move onto the next step.  Otherwise they say your fine.

So what about all those people out there that go without a diagnosis for a long time and then find out what is wrong with them, some finding they have serious illnesses?  Why didn't the blood tests show what was wrong? Just curious.

[Duchess47]

You have a great doctor.  Obviously he is very thourough. You will be in my thoughts, please keep us all posted.

[posepetal47]

hi,i had a ct scan done about a month ago, it came back abnormal, it picked up 4 enlarged lynmph nodes, 2 in stomach area, 2 in the liver.they say they cannot rule out malinancy cancer.the dr did all kinds of blood work about a wek ago, got he test results back today,liver function was high,white blood cells were high,i'm a anemia now,monos absolute high,wbc count was high,hemoglobin was high,hematocrit was high.monocytes electrome high,alt high,as high.i am schedle for a egd test aug the first that the scope test down to the stomach, he will be taking bipospy of the lymnph nodes then.ok, have a great day

[Duchess47]

Doctors must take into account your entire medical history.  There are so many blood tests available.  Many symptoms of other illnesses are the same as cancer.  Your age, physical exam and symptoms will determine further testing.  From that testing other testing may be required.  My best friend , who is 49, had blood coming out of her nipple which turned out to be breast cancer.  She wasn't having any abnormal symptoms prior to that.  Of course she is the first to admit that she was remiss in her mammagrams.  She is fine, thank goodness.

[ploggin]

I think if possible they would do a biopsy of the area in question as a reliable method of diagnosis, in addition to any blood testing.

[cookie m]

I cant remember what it stands for.  Ive had several people close to me that have had cancer and have asked for complete blood work ups.  They have come back normal each time (this was before realizing that we had to be more specific) A DR. told me what to ask for.  When this test was run it came back that the womans count was so high that it had invaded all the organs too.  You rely on Doctors to know what to do and what to look for when you give them symptoms.  I have experience that tells me otherwise and you have to really push and self diagnose.  Read all you can, seek out different opinions.  I do believe that there are simple, natural things we can all do daily to keep ourselves healthier.

[ploggin]

I had never heard of CEA.  Do you know what that stands for?  I always thought that they check your total and white blood cell counts (which are part of standard tests) and if these are not in normal ranges then they look further.

[cookie m]

You have to ask for a specific blood test to identify cancer in the body.  Usual blood tests will not show it.  Its abbreviated by three letters. CEA.  Ask for it-even if the Dr. knows that you may be suspecting cancer.  They will not always run that specific test.

[Demiguise]

CEA is a blood test sometimes used as a fol/up guide to locating
a protein in patients w/ cancer or during treatment, etc. It's
not for all cancers. Colon/rectal/breast/lung cancers might have this test as a guide to treatment or to help rule-out it
has returned.

[cookie m]

CEA may only be the test that can diagnose colon cancer.  That is what several people I have known have had who have had that particular blood test done.

[crystaly]

Hi I don't know why blood tests don't always show you have an illness. Perhaps its something to do with they tests for certain things in respect of what your symptoms are? I know when my husband became ill all his blood tests came back normal. It was only when he had an mri that it was discovered he had tumours .
I think this is quite common for lymphomas or so I have heard. I,m sure some of the more knowledgable people on the forum will know why this is the case. Take Care Chris