High platelets, anemia and other abnormalities

[SchoolConfusionMum]

Hello

I'm trying to keep rational, but following blood tests my GP has sent me for a FIT test, chest xray and more blood tests "to rule out various cancers"

I'm sure it's something less nefarious, and wonder if anyone else has been in this position?

If not just a hand hold?

Exh has Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) | Macmillan Cancer Support so every blood test he has is abnormal for one reason or another. High platelet, low iron, liver levels high etc. It was high platelets that promted tests and eventual diagnosis.He is mid sixties now been taking a capsule type of chemotherapy for more than 20 years. He is monitored regularly but other than that lives a pretty normal life.

Did they rule out an infection first? Some basic information here about high platelets, didn't they inform you, seeing how worried you are? Didn't they say anemia can be caused by high platelets? Why the chest x ray- what symptoms did you have, especially reading here how it can be triggered by an infection? Why this test, what is the problem with the lungs? https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thrombocytosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378315#:~:text=Platelets%20are%20parts%20of%20the,condition%2C%20such%20as%20an%20infection. Didn't they reassure you with this: ''Based on your past anemia diagnosis, you most likely would have reactive or secondary thrombocytosis, which is where other conditions cause a high platelet count'' https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-what-causes-a-high-platelet-count/#:~:text=Inflammatory%20conditions%20like%20autoimmune%20diseases,of%20a%20high%20platelet%20count.

No, I was actually quite calm at the time, other results were abnormal, such as inflammation markers, but those were the 2 she focused on and said we needed to rule out cancer of the lungs and bowels first (I had a smear not too long ago so she said it's highly unlikely to be cervical)

She has also put me on folic acid, vitamin d and iron supplements.

I'm praying its something minor like the anemia triggering it all.

My elder sister is being treated for cancer, but they can't track the primary source, so they are doing chemo and immunology therapy.

My younger sister has immunology conditions (Graves & Sarcoidosis)

I'm struggling to be positive.

I'm completely lacking focus, tired, losing weight, no appetite etc

I just think I'm burnt out as I've had a stressful few months.

I hope it won't be anything serious. I am sorry your sister is going through this.
I can see that sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease. Here is some information about inflammatory markers, if this helps in any way: ''inflammatory markers are blood tests used by doctors to detect inflammation in the body, caused by many diseases. This can include infections, auto-immune conditions and cancers.'' https://arc-w.nihr.ac.uk/news/inflammatory-markers-explained/ and some about covid causing high inflammatory markers, even when asymptomatic: ''C-reactive protein is significantly correlated with ferritin and IL-6 and suggestive of elevated inflammatory response in COVID-19. In our study, as severity increased, the mean value of CRP was significantly increased from asymptomatic to severe cases''https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8897805/#:~:text=C%2Dreactive%20protein%20is%20significantly,from%20asymptomatic%20to%20severe%20cases. Here they seem to correlate ferritin (iron) with the inflammatory marker. These are just some suggestions or information, I don't know if they apply in your case.
I hope you will feel better soon and the results won't show anything sinister. All the best to you and your sister.

I'm just going to use this thread to witter on...

I don't want my family to know just how anxious I am.

My DH is being extra thoughtful, and I know he is worried, having had similar scares, which turned out to be a harmless.

I've 2 dc in Primary and 1 dc in year 8 so they are all quite young. They are old enough to know that I am concerned, tired and lacking in energy...not my usual self. I've just said I'm a little poorly and the doctor is running some more tests.

I need to stop googling the results and combinations of results...It reminds me of years ago when I had fertility problems....I began to hyperfocus and it wasn't a healthy thing to do....

So I expected to be waiting weeks for results. Got a text today asking me to make an appointment with GP.

I was somewhere public so decided to call later.... only for the surgery to call me and book me in for tomorrow morning, as it was important.

I've just looked on my NHS app and can see the fit test has come back flagged as "abnormal" with a normal range being 1 -10...mines 200.

I'm still trying to keep positive...but...

Gp app today. As I expected urgent referral.

I asked about other possible explanations for the raised platelets, anemia, inflammation markers but he said its most definitely a bowel problem...

He did a physical check of stomach and bowel. Nothing obvious.

So it's now a different waiting game....

My daughter had raised platelets and anemia amongst other signs before her IBD diagnosis. Have they done fecal calprotectin?

Just seen your inflammatory markers were up too. Again DD had high platelets, high ESR, high orosomucoid, and anemia. She turned out to have Crohn's disease.

That obviously a strong possibility!

They have put me on the 2 week path with a referral for suspected cancer. I'm in denile this evening...

I can explain away all my sympathy etc

And I need to just stop worrying.... what will happen, will happen.

It is perfectly normal to worry though.
I hope it turns out to be something easily treatable.

Still none the wiser.

My consultant said that with my inflammation markers it was too risky to do a colonoscopy/endoscopy so I'm waiting on a call for a MRI. That should be treated as urgent so hopefully I won't wait too long.

If the can't find the cause of bleeding via the MRI, they will check if the inflammation will cause any issues whilst doing the MRI so proceed to original plan.

Oh gosh, what a worry. I hope the MRI call comes through very quickly. Somehow not knowing what you are dealing with is the hardest bit x

Ended up having a CT scan with contrast today insted of the MRI.

It covered full body areas so Thorax which is lungs/heart etc) Abdominal and Pelvis.

Bit surprised at Sunday morning appointment!

Trying to reassure myself that it standard for the 2 week protocol for them to react with urgency, and until they are sure otherwise they will treat it as if you have had a diagnosis of the big C.

I was told up to 2 weeks for the scan results.

So in summary
Sever anemia (7) Both ida and foliate anemia
High platelets (610)
Positive fit test (>200)
Other inflammation markers raised

Still no answers, just this horrible tiredness and waiting....

Fingers crossed you get the results soon - poor you feeling so tired

At least they seem to have done a test that has checked almost everything!

I am guessing you should be hearing soon. Any update?

OP how did things turn out in the end? Just asking as I have similar diagnostics currently …