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What Does My Blood Test Report Indicate?
Question: Hello, I am a 45 healthy female with a history of early papillary thyroid cancer (2000) and early (stage 1A) breast cancer (2011). Last week I had blood work done for a check up. The blood worked showed low counts: RBC 3.46, Hemoglobin 10.1, Hematocrit 30.2 and Platelets 141. I had previous blood work in August 2015 and all numbers were normal - RBC 4.64, Hemoglobin 13.6, Hematocrit 41.3 and Platelets 282. My doctor retested my labs yesterday (do not have results) and raised the possibility of a GI bleed (I have no symptoms) or lab error. I don't smoke, am 5'1 119lbs and feel fine. My obvious concern is always is this a new cancer or cancer related? I take Synthroid, Arimidex and Osteo Bioflex. Please let me know your thoughts on these numbers. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
You should search for the cause of anemia.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.
You have history of papillary thyroid carcinoma and early breast cancer. However your fall in hemoglobin is not related with cancer. Don't worry about that.
You have low hemoglobin and hematocrit. You may have iron deficiency anemia or anemia due to blood loss. Chronic blood loss is the common cause of anemia.
You should go for ultrasound abdomen, occult blood test in stool, anemia profile and peripheral smear examination.
This will help you to find the exact cause of your fall in hemoglobin.
Then you should take treatment accordingly. Your rest all reports are normal and nothing to worry about that. Consult your doctor and plan accordingly.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
You should search for the cause of anemia.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.
You have history of papillary thyroid carcinoma and early breast cancer. However your fall in hemoglobin is not related with cancer. Don't worry about that.
You have low hemoglobin and hematocrit. You may have iron deficiency anemia or anemia due to blood loss. Chronic blood loss is the common cause of anemia.
You should go for ultrasound abdomen, occult blood test in stool, anemia profile and peripheral smear examination.
This will help you to find the exact cause of your fall in hemoglobin.
Then you should take treatment accordingly. Your rest all reports are normal and nothing to worry about that. Consult your doctor and plan accordingly.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your information. What would the abdominal ultrasound look for? Given the labs that are off, could this be a lab error?
Brief Answer:
It doesn't look like lab error.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
Your hemoglobin and hematocrit both are low but overall all findings are matching with each other and indicate same. So there is very low chance of lab error.
Ultrasound abdomen is to rule out any mass lesion in colon or intestine or other pathology which leads to chronic bleeding.
Go for investigation and take treatment accordingly.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
It doesn't look like lab error.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
Your hemoglobin and hematocrit both are low but overall all findings are matching with each other and indicate same. So there is very low chance of lab error.
Ultrasound abdomen is to rule out any mass lesion in colon or intestine or other pathology which leads to chronic bleeding.
Go for investigation and take treatment accordingly.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you again for your reply. Is it possible to have gastritis and lose blood?
Brief Answer:
Yes it is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
Gastritis can leads to erosion of gastric epithelium and ulcer and it leads to gastric bleeding. However it can easily detected by occult blood in stool test.
So if you have gastritis then also it will diagnosed.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Yes it is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
Gastritis can leads to erosion of gastric epithelium and ulcer and it leads to gastric bleeding. However it can easily detected by occult blood in stool test.
So if you have gastritis then also it will diagnosed.
Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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