Blood tests, what do they look for?

[skettle]

Does anyone know what they look for when they take general blood tests? the doctor did tell me but he used lots of 'big, doctor words'!

Basically, would they pick up different types of cancer from a general blood test?

[chapsmum]

A basic set of blood tests usually consites of urea and electolyes, this can tell your bodies balance of salts, from this you a#can look at yourkidney function.
And a full bood count which can determine if you have an infection or are anaemic. Some types of cancer can be indicated by abnormal bloods, but not all. What you worried about??

[skettle]

Well Ive been having bad pains in my bones for the past couple of weeks, arms, legs, chest bones, hands and wrist, hips... I googled it (I know, naughty!) and I got a list of bone cancer sites .

Im now terrified and await my doctors apointment tomorow morning.

I know Im probably just being a hypocondriac but I am worried.

I am anaemic too (which is also a sign of bone cancer apparantly

[SlashFaceAntiPeadifiddler]

Never look up anything on internet sites. I'm a qualified nurse and even I have managed to put the willies up myself by looking when I have a list of symptoms. If you mean you are achey you might be aching as a consequence of your low iron levels. Don't panic!

[starlover]

skettle... you have the same symptoms as me (think i was on your other thread)

your GP obv wasn't very helpful... but having spoken to a couple of doctors on here, and my own very nice one I am pretty sure it is nothing serious!

there are many far less fatal reasons for how you are feeling than cancer!
my doctor actually asked me if there was anythting i was particularlyt worried it was and put my mind at reast...

maybe you should see a diff GP?

[chapsmum]

slash face may want to change her name!!
Anaemia can be caused by many things and a llot of women of childrbearing age are anaemic due to period and dietary insuficentcy.
Bone cancer does release certain protiens into the bood, (think this needs a more specific blood test) but your u's and e's would be abnormal. Like slash face says try not to worry, internet sites only give you a very limited amout of informatiuon and diagnosis needs to be made lookin at the bigger picture. Talk toyour gp about your worries.
Aches and pains can also be a symptom of anaemia.


Hope ive not confused you,
Hope you wouldnt mind letting me know how you get on, will keep my fingers crossed but am sure that everything will be fine.

[skettle]

Thanks everyone, I honestly think I might be turning into a hypocondriac, in the past year Ive had a brain tumour scare (constant headaches), skin cancer scare (I now assume it to be dermititis!), breast cancer scare (thought I felt a lump and had some strange spots) and now this. Maybe Im just going mad lol

Starlover, what is your pain like? mine is everywhere and feels like its coming from the bone, is yours like this?

[starlover]

mine is mainly in the chest... very deep, stabbing pains. sometimes a bad ache all across

plus various other aches and pains!

had similar scenario as you... visited GP, pretty non-commital about a diagnosis but sent for blood tests... came back anaemic!
told to go back in 3 months! lol

anyway, she did say it was unlikely to be anything serious (i had also had pain down left arm) as the pain was jumping about and not always in one place