When you have cancer, you will probably need lab, imaging, or other tests. They can show small changes before problems get serious. Keeping track of your lab results lets your doctor take action as soon as your blood counts change to help prevent many cancer-related problems and cancer treatment side effects. Some people find it helps to ask for a copy of their lab results and have a member of their cancer care team go over the numbers with them.
By getting a copy, you can also see what the normal ranges are for the lab that tested your blood and where your numbers fall within that range. But, it doesn't always allow health care providers to delay the release of health information to patients, including lab, imaging, pathology, and other test results. This means that patients may see their results on a patient portal at the same time as their health care provider or before their health care provider has had a chance to review and explain them.
Abnormal or unclear test results can make patients worry, especially if they have been waiting to see them. Talking to the health care provider who is ordering the tests ahead of time might help; you might want to ask them:.
Here are 2 of the most common types of blood tests and what they can tell the doctor about your health: the complete blood count CBC and the chemistry panel. Blood is made up of water, proteins, nutrients, and living cells. A CBC tells your cancer care team about the cells in your blood. It measures 3 basic types of blood cells:.
If neutrophil or white blood cell levels are significantly altered for no apparent reason or remain raised or lowered, a doctor will order more tests to determine the cause.
Severely high or low levels of white blood cells often require emergency care and monitoring. People with severe neutropenia will have an inadequate defense against infection. People with severe neutrophilia typically have a life-threatening type of infection or other inflammatory illness that requires treatment, such as cancer. Antibiotics can treat bacterial infections, while antifungal medicine treats fungal infections.
People can treat certain viral infections with medications that slow viral activity. Otherwise, supportive therapies, such as fluids and rest, may be part of the treatment plan. People with altered neutrophil levels caused by medications or procedures may need to stop or adjust treatments. People with chronic conditions that disrupt adequate neutrophil production or maturation may need to take drugs that allow the body to raise neutrophil production, such as:.
People with severely low levels of neutrophils often require monitoring, antibiotic therapy, and hospitalization to reduce the risk of severe infection. This period of intensive care helps keep people with weakened immune systems away from potentially harmful microorganisms. It also supports the body, giving it time to produce more white blood cells.
One of the causes of low neutrophil blood levels is a vitamin B deficiency. Eating foods rich in B may help improve low neutrophil blood levels. Examples of foods rich in vitamin B include:. To help reduce the risk of high or low neutrophil levels, people may want to try the following tips:.
However, people with only minor or mild changes in their neutrophil blood levels often show no symptoms and do not require any treatment. Having a healthy number of neutrophils in the blood and bone marrow is crucial to the correct working of the immune system. When neutrophil levels are higher or lower than usual for more than a short period, a doctor will order several tests to work out the underlying cause.
People with significantly altered neutrophil levels may also require hospitalization to prevent infection and treat life-threatening conditions.
Anyone with concerns about their neutrophil count or any medical condition should talk to their doctor who will be able to answer questions they may have.
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The differential blood test tells doctors how many of each type of white blood cell are in the body. Knowing these levels can help a doctor to…. CBC is a complete blood count.
It is performed by first taking a blood sample from the patient using a simple finger prick or venous draw. Once a blood sample is collected, it is then inserted into a machine called a hematology analyzer. This machine has the ability to differentiate and count each type of cells in the blood. This test helps doctors investigate a wide range of disorders or evaluate general health. Complete blood count assesses the three main categories of cells in the blood: Red blood cells which carry oxygen, White blood cells which defend against infections, and Platelets which help with blood clotting.
White blood cells in the blood consist of five main types of cells Neutrophils, Basophils, Eosinophils, Lymphocytes, and Monocytes. To be able to assess specific conditions, the analyzer gives a specific number to each type of the white blood cells. Neutrophils are the most numerous as they constitute about 50 to 70 percent of the total number of white blood cells.
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