Does a blood test pick up on cancer

[Youmakemehappywhenskiesaregrey]

My ds (8) has been poorly for nearly four weeks. Started as a virus, high temperature, cough etc. Then started complaining of hip pain. He now is having regular pains in his shoulder, back, foot. He is also notably less active. He is though having bursts of energy where he is very active. A couple weeks ago he had severe tummy pain and we took him to A&E they said he was constipated and lymph glands were up in his groin. They didn’t seem concerned by the pain as it wasn’t too bad that day but said when he had seen a GP for painful hip about seven weeks ago he might have had irritable hip then. When they checked his hip they said his movement was normal. They did blood test and urine test which they said were normal. Something isn’t right and I’m worried sick. I am going to take him back to GP and ask for further tests as this has gone on for ages now.

Yes with some they pick up on markers in the blood which will be investigated further and with the swollen lymph nodes they will be checking for infection

My son has actually been through this it wasnt cancer he however had over 12 months of screaming pain with high fevers and no discernable cause had tonsillitis frequently ear infection frequently it was a nightmare

Some do and some don't, it depends on the type of cancer. Pop along to your GP and mention all your concerns- hopefully they can be of help :)

Do you know what they tested for?
It is highly likely they will have tested for raised immune response and blood cell count. If there was something serious going on these would not be right. If the tests were OK, it's not likely anything serious is going on.
Viruses really can linger for a long time poor lad.

slipperywhensparticus What was it in the end?

As far as I am aware with any cancer your body would have highly elevated white cells so a normal result indicates no cancer with a fair amount of certainty.

I say this as when I had some awful symptoms (suspected lymphoma) got sent to oncology, and after just blood tests they gave me the cancer all-clear and looked for something else.

Obviously I'm not a medical professional but bloods wouldn't be 'normal' with something as serious as cancer I don't think. Why have you jumped to cancer? It must be stressful. I'm sorry. I hope your doctors are going to be more reassuring as you are clearly very anxious (understandably so).

I hope ur right that if anything sinister then his blood count would show something.

I think they took two virals of blood. They said as he had been to doctor few times with pain they would rule things out. I was worried about Leukemia.
As I type I can hear him coughing in his sleep.
Could a virus cause aches and pains? He said he can hear a popping sound in hip/shoulder joint followed by pain.

I do t know why my brain has jumped to cancer. It’s just I don’t have a reason for all these body aches and pains. He has always been a well child who never complains of illness. It has been more stressful recently as my dd has also been poorly with a uti which didn’t respond to antiobiotics for ages and needed ultrasound and blood test.

What blood tests did they do?

One of the commonest childhood cancers is leukaemia; and if the tests included a full blood count, and the results were normal, it can be ruled out.

Yes I think it was full blood count and checking for inflammation markers

Does anyone know if it’s normal to have body pains with a virus for over three weeks?
Could the virus trigger some childhood arthritis?

Full blood count won’t pick up cancer unless it’s blood cancer, inflammatory markers are non specific, so can be raised for any number of reasons. I’m an ex blood scientist, so I know you can have cancer and a completely normal full blood count. Only certain cancers can be picked up by certain blood tests.

I was worried mainly about leukaemia which I thought might affect white blood count. But I guess not.

Ahh just realised leukaemia is a blood cancer isn’t it?

Yeah leukaemia will definitely show on a full blood count :)

there are really nasty viruses around including flu wgich would cause this

I've always had really awful pains in my legs and back with viruses, right from childhood. I'd also say that lots of people in my area have had bug after bug this winter, often with them running together. I've been sick since before Christmas with only a few days being well in between. Possibly this could be what's going on? If you're worried though get him checked out. I'd always trust my instincts as a mum.

Thank you. Yes I think he has had one virus then caught another straight after. I was worried about the pain he is reporting but I will get back to GP.

I should also have added that despite my childish username, I'm 35 and pretty healthy with two kids. Still get lots of pain when I'm poorly and I did have post viral fatigue syndrome a while ago, but nothing scary. Hope you can update this thread.

Yes will update when we know more as it may be useful to others in similar situation.

Thank you. And good luck.

Thank you.

Seen GP this morning, sent for X-ray of hip which we have been for and further blood tests which also done. Said if still unclear will refer to
Paediatrics.
Feel bit more worried today but at least we should know more next week with the results.

Good luck to him and you. I would be the same worrying like that.

Not all cancers will be picked up on blood tests. My daughter had a soft tissue cancer with completely normal bloods. Having said that, it sounds like this is being appropriately investigated. Hope all turns out ok.

Thanks for your reply. Sorry about your daughter, hope she is well now.
I think as parents we all just fear anything happening to our children.
I am really worried, every day my son seems to report a new symptom, yesterday it was burning hands.
When we went to the X-ray the GP had written “bone lesion” in differential diagnosis box.
I need to stop googling.