Lao Liu checked the blood routine twice in a week, and the results of each time made him sleepless. Seeing the increase in platelet counts, combined with his family history of tumors, his inner anxiety surged like a tide, for fear that he would have cancer.
He went to the doctor with full doubts, and after reviewing the results of two blood routine tests in detail, the doctor told him softly: "Lao Liu, your platelets do fluctuate, but they are still within the normal range, so don't worry too much." ”
In hospitals, blood routine has become the right-hand man of almost every doctor. From internal medicine to surgery, from gynecology to pediatrics, the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in almost all disciplines are inseparable from the assistance of blood routine.
The blood routine can reflect many important physiological and pathological changes in the human body, and in our daily life, whether it is fever, headache or stomach pain, doctors always habitually ask us to do a blood routine examination first.
Routine blood tests are quick and easy, but they can give us a lot of important information about our health. And there are many people like Lao Liu who have similar thoughts, can you see the traces of cancer from the blood routine?
01
Can a blood routine detect cancer?
As a basic monitoring method in the medical field, in some cases, especially for diseases involving the blood system, such as leukemia and other blood cancers, the results of blood routine examination will show some obvious abnormalities.
In leukemia, for example, the number of white blood cells in the blood routine examination of this cancer patient often increases dramatically, especially in the advanced stage of the disease.
However, there are also some patients with leukemia who have relatively stable white blood cell counts and do not show significant changes. This tells us that while a routine blood test can give us some clues about our health, it is not an absolute basis for a cancer diagnosis.
Tumorigenesis is a complex process, which does not lead to general changes in blood values, so the results of routine blood tests do not provide us with absolute reference significance.
Still, there is a test in the blood test called tumor markers, which is specifically designed to target tumors. This test can more accurately reflect the presence and changes of the tumor, providing doctors with a more reliable basis for diagnosis.
02
What types of diseases can be detected by a routine blood test?
First, a routine blood test can reveal the presence of an infection. An abnormally high white blood cell count often indicates inflammation or infection in the body, whether bacterial or viral, and a complete blood count can provide us with a preliminary diagnosis.
At the same time, changes in the proportion of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the white blood cell classification can further help us determine the type of infection.
Secondly, routine blood tests also play an indispensable role in the diagnosis of anemia. Abnormalities in red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and other indicators may be a sign of anemia.
There are a variety of possible diseases hidden behind anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, etc., and the results of routine blood tests can provide doctors with the direction of further investigation.
In addition, routine blood tests can also reflect the presence of myeloproliferative disorders. When the red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelet count is abnormally high in the blood count, it may indicate a myeloproliferative disorder such as polycythemia vera and myelofibrosis.
In addition, routine blood tests can also provide clues about tumors, rheumatic diseases, and many other diseases. Although a routine blood test cannot directly confirm the diagnosis of these disorders, it can provide important information for doctors to diagnose.
03
Reminder: There are 3 types of abnormalities in the indicator, and further inspection is recommended
white blood cell
Among the indicators of blood routine, the abnormal value of white blood cells, especially the obvious increase, undoubtedly requires our great attention. White blood cells, as an important part of the body's immune system, are responsible for fighting against the invasion of bacteria, viruses and foreign bodies.
When the body is at risk of inflammation or infection, white blood cells increase accordingly. Therefore, once a routine blood test reveals an abnormally high white blood cell count, further diagnosis is indispensable.
Basophils
If there is an abnormality in this indicator, it should also be immediately examined in depth. A decrease in the number of basophils can sometimes be a sign of a problem with immune function, such as chronic myelogenous leukemia or lymphoma. Of course, common causes such as allergies and infections cannot be overlooked.
erythrocyte
Red blood cells, which act as "transporters", are responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, as well as excreting harmful substances from the body.
If the number of red blood cells in a routine blood test is significantly higher than the normal range (eg, above 250), it is likely that a disease has occurred in one of the body's organs.
This requires immediate action and in-depth check-ups for early detection and early treatment to safeguard our health.
04
Further reading: Where does the blood end up with?
During a blood test, it often happens that more blood is drawn than is needed for the actual test. The hospital does not dispose of this "leftover" blood lightly and immediately, but carefully stores it in the hematology department in case it is needed. Such an approach is not only responsible for patients, but also respectful of medicine.
Imagine that when a blood test report is presented to a patient or doctor, some of the data in it may cause them to wonder. At this point, the remaining blood acts as a "spare key", providing the possibility to solve the mystery.
Through re-testing, we can more accurately judge the patient's health status and provide a more powerful basis for the formulation of treatment plans.
But what is the fate of blood samples that have completed their mission? The answer is that they will be disposed of as medical waste.
But the process is by no means simply a throwaway. In order to ensure that there is no harm to the environment and human health, the hospital takes a series of rigorous handling measures.
These measures include, but are not limited to, autoclaving and chemical treatment to ensure that relevant regulations and standards are strictly followed at every step.