Does a normal blood count rule out cancer?

With the exception of blood cancers, blood tests generally can’t absolutely tell whether you have cancer or some other noncancerous condition, but they can give your doctor clues about what’s going on inside your body.

What blood cells are abnormal with cancer?

Leukemia, a type of cancer found in your blood and bone marrow, is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. The high number of abnormal white blood cells are not able to fight infection, and they impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets.

Does cancer affect red blood cell count?

Some cancer treatments, mainly chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may lower your red blood cells count. This condition is known as anemia. Blood loss, either from surgery or specific cancers, and cancers that directly involve the bone marrow can also cause or worsen anemia.

How does cancer affect your blood count?

Some cancers can cause your white blood cell count to increase, but more often it reduces the number of these cells. WBCs power the immune system, and both cancer and cancer treatments can reduce the number of these cells that you have available to fight infection.

What kind of anemia does cancer cause?

There are several types of anemia; however, iron-deficiency anemia is most often linked to cancer. Iron-deficiency anemia is caused by a lack of healthy red blood cells in the body. Read on to learn more about the anemia-cancer connection.

What blood test results indicate leukemia?

How Is Leukemia Treated? Your doctor will conduct a complete blood count (CBC) to determine if you have leukemia. This test may reveal if you have leukemic cells. Abnormal levels of white blood cells and abnormally low red blood cell or platelet counts can also indicate leukemia.

Does high red blood cells mean cancer?

Polycythemia vera (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh) is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots. Polycythemia vera is rare.