Trends in primary care blood tests prior to lung and colorectal cancer diagnosis—A retrospective cohort study using linked Australian data

This cohort study investigated the potential for early diagnosis of lung cancer (LC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) through the analysis of blood test abnormalities in Australian general practice. By examining data from 855 LC and 399 CRC patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2021, the study found that blood test requests increased 6-7 months before diagnosis. Notably, abnormalities in acute phase reactants (APR) and red blood cell indices (RBCI) were detected several months prior to diagnosis, often without concurrent anaemia. These abnormalities presented distinct signatures for LC and CRC. The findings suggest that monitoring blood test results, in combination with other pre-diagnostic information, could help general practitioners prioritise and expedite cancer investigations, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis. Read the full article here.