Would one of these random health assessments be a good idea? Or a waste of money?

[Eileen101]

I have been listening to Dr Amir Khan and Cherry Healy's podcast and it's got me wondering whether one of these randox health overviews is a good idea. I am not scientifically minded and would welcome input from anyone who is.

I had a blood test at the doctors last year which came back with anaemia, low vitamin D and subclinical hypothyroidism.
I have heavy periods, hence the anaemia. I took the iron tablets and now am on to an over the counter 1 a day type iron supplement.

I have a family history of haemocromotosis, plus my mother had endometrial cancer, another cousin on my maternal side has gynae cancer of some kind and another is terminal before 40.
I am slightly worried as I am a single parent and I would like the reassurance that things are on track (or not). I do tend to err on the side of anxiety so I'd love to know from anyone that knows about these things, would the randox health assessment with the tumour markers add on and GP appointment be worth it? I'd be looking at £600 odd so it's not a small amount of money, but I'd find it for health reassurance.

The wording it looks at is:
Tumour Associated Markers
CA125 (Female only), CA15-3 (Female only), CA19-9, Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE), Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Beta-human Chorionic Gonadotropin (BHCG) associated with bowel, ovarian, prostate, liver and pancreatic cancer.

I definitely want to know what's going on with my iron, but just weighing up popping in a request to my GP for an iron test or going to whole hog and splashing out on this private thing.

Hi op, will your GP not do a ferritin test?

Also for info, one a day is not advised. You can only absorb a certain amount of iron daily. My GP recommended every 48hrs on an empty stomach with vitamin C tablet.

My ferritin went 16 - 118 in six months.

Agree: can get the iron tested at GP.

And @Gardeningsideeffects not everyone can absorb iron from supplements, sadly. You are extremely lucky that it worked for you!

That seems expensive. Bluecrest Wellness does extensive blood test screenings much more cheaply and gives you a 'traffic light' report which you can share with your GP if want to.

Getting your iron, thyroid and vitamin D checked again seems the most sensible starting point.
The tumour marker tests can sometimes create more worry than reassurance if there aren't any symptoms.