Cancer detection: Early symptoms and blood test trends

Medical experts and researchers are highlighting new methods and warnings to improve early cancer detection. Oncologist Dr. Anchal Aggarwal notes that approximately 80% of patients exhibit symptoms before a formal diagnosis, yet many are ignored because they mimic common issues like stress, fatigue, or aging. Key symptoms requiring medical attention include persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, persistent cough, changes in skin, unusual lumps, and digestive issues.

Complementing these clinical warnings, a study from the University of Oxford published in PLOS Medicine suggests that monitoring blood test trends over time may offer critical diagnostic clues. By analyzing electronic health records of over 275,000 patients in England, researchers found that tracking how results—such as hemoglobin or platelet counts—change relative to a patient's own baseline can be more effective than looking at single results in isolation. This longitudinal approach could help identify cancer risks in patients presenting with non-specific symptoms like unexplained weight loss.