Blood Drug Testing

Can a regular blood test show signs of cancer in general?

I know that blood tests can't diagnose specific cancers, but while having a routine blood tests, if someone has cancer wherever, can the lab detect abnormalities in the blood that usually means cancer, or that would have to be screened to see if its cancer??? otherwise whats the point of a routine physical if something serious like cancer can easily get passed by, unless you go screening or get MRI's or whatever.....Just thought i'd ask..thanks

Public Comments

1. some cancers can be found by blood tests- but not many. the point of a routine physical is not just about cancer. there are many health issues that can be quite serious that can be detected during a physical. for example: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholestero;, heart defects, vision problems, hearing problems, etc. you get the idea.
2. Only if the blood work showed an abnormality. Cancer patients usually have an abnormal white blood cell count. It is lower than normal. If the blood work was normal then no you wopuld not know that the patient had cancer
3. Yes if there is a high Ca level you need to know why usually it is a marker of cancer.
4. There are hormone/antibody type of blood tests for prostate cancer (PSA), ovarian cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer, liver cancer, etc. But they are not cheap and are not done without good reasons for doing (past history of a certain type of cancer or symptoms to suspect certain cancers). In any case they only lead one to suspect such cancers, not a verifiable proof of such cancers (that would be what x-rays, MRIs, biopsies are for). In other words: 1.If you had such a cancer that was treated, then they might watch your blood levels to see if it is coming back...but still they would have to find it to treat it.OR 2.If you had symptoms of a suspected cancer, they might do such a blood test, but still they would have to find it to treat it.
5. No a regular blood test will not rule cancer in or rule cancer out. It is only one piece of the puzzle. Cancer can be extremely difficult to diagnose in young healthy people. Unless there is a specific reason to look in a place, cancer can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. A young healthy person may have a general feeling of something not right, but can dismiss symptoms as being something else . . as can a doctor. Often cancer is asymptomatic until it is in an advanced state. A routine physical is not much good at catching early stages of cancer. In fact it is no good at all. My son had a well physical one month before being diagnosed with stage IV abdominal sarcoma. He had metastasis all through his body, and his regular pediatrician did not find it during examination. Unfortunately, this is very common.
6. I think blood tests can say a lot, if they do the right tests. There are signs that something isn't right...but not all the time either. The ideal situation would be annual scans...how nice would that be? You think they could invent a machine that everyone could have a swipe through that would detect most abnormalities. But honestly, I think research is the key and prevention the way to go. We eat garbage full of preservatives; we drink water full of chemicals and breathe air full of pollutants and toxins....none of us are immune. Unfortunately I think it's our children who are suffering for the sins of the fathers as the saying goes. We cant go on in a world of greed and filth and possibly survive. It's time we change and mend our ways.
7. not routine blood tests directly. docs look for abnormal levels of certain antigens or proteins in the blood that are cancer markers, and they usually specify in the blood test order they want, for instance, AFP levels -alphafetoprotein, a common marker for cancer. anyway, ull learn more on cancer by checking educational sites like the md anderson hospital's.