4 ms·

I mean, you’re supposed to get a yearly checkup. They do blood work.

plasticsoprano 2y ago
Yes but that blood work checks things like cholesterol and vitamin deficiencies. They aren't checking for these types of markers that point toward cancers. They may notice something is out of whack that may lead to more specific testing but I think the overall question is why aren't we just checking for everything more frequently with these blood draws?
- 6LLvveMx2koXfwn 2y ago
  I had to explicitly ask for Vit D and Iron/Ferritin to be added to the default bunch of tests on my decennial check-up as I was constantly tired. They eventually found out I had iron-deficient anaemia caused by undiagnosed Coeliac disease.
  - OptionOfT 2y ago
    It's very important to advocate for yourself at the doctor. My wife went to the doctor many times complaining about fatigue. Response: "Oh, you're unemployed, you must be just bored...". We moved, new doctor, new yearly checkup, and one attentive doctor noticed something on her. 6 months and a whole battery of tests later she got a diagnosis of EDS. A genetic disease that causes issues with connective tissue. She was always tired because her muscles were compensating in places where people who have normal connective tissue can rely on this tissue as a stabilizer. I'm very glad that you were able to get your diagnosis.
- kodt 2y ago
  The amount of blood drawn isn't enough to run all of these tests at once. They would need to multiple blood draws for tests that in most cases will end up being unnecessary.
  - plasticsoprano 2y ago
    It's unnecessary until it finds something. My doctor is pretty thorough and I will give 3 vials with my yearly physical bloodwork. I get a pretty comprehensive set of results but my grandfather died of pancreatic cancer and I'd love for this to be included in that testing.
  - mapt 2y ago
    I had a wide panel at one point after a statistically unlikely health event. It was something like 300ml of blood spread over ~40 vials. They tried to charge me $7500. It did lead to a diagnosis.
- davikr 2y ago
  It's complicated - for screening to be done, the mortality reduction must outweigh the overtreatment and overdiagnosis risks.
leetrout 2y ago
Yes, but insurance does not cover large amounts of screening tests. Last year my A1C check was not covered. In North Carolina my wife's vitamin D test is not covered by her primary or gyno for routine checks.
Sloowms 2y ago
Depends on the country you live in. There are countries that don't do them with similar health results as countries that do them. There is a stereotype that Dutch doctors will prescribe paracetamol for anything because they are really defensive with medication and doctor visits and the result is generally the same as countries that do check ups.

Yes but that blood work checks things like cholesterol and vitamin deficiencies. They aren't checking for these types of markers that point toward cancers. They may notice something is out of whack that may lead to more specific testing but I think the overall question is why aren't we just checking for everything more frequently with these blood draws?

6LLvveMx2koXfwn 2y ago
I had to explicitly ask for Vit D and Iron/Ferritin to be added to the default bunch of tests on my decennial check-up as I was constantly tired. They eventually found out I had iron-deficient anaemia caused by undiagnosed Coeliac disease.
- OptionOfT 2y ago
  It's very important to advocate for yourself at the doctor. My wife went to the doctor many times complaining about fatigue. Response: "Oh, you're unemployed, you must be just bored...". We moved, new doctor, new yearly checkup, and one attentive doctor noticed something on her. 6 months and a whole battery of tests later she got a diagnosis of EDS. A genetic disease that causes issues with connective tissue. She was always tired because her muscles were compensating in places where people who have normal connective tissue can rely on this tissue as a stabilizer. I'm very glad that you were able to get your diagnosis.
kodt 2y ago
The amount of blood drawn isn't enough to run all of these tests at once. They would need to multiple blood draws for tests that in most cases will end up being unnecessary.
- plasticsoprano 2y ago
  It's unnecessary until it finds something. My doctor is pretty thorough and I will give 3 vials with my yearly physical bloodwork. I get a pretty comprehensive set of results but my grandfather died of pancreatic cancer and I'd love for this to be included in that testing.
- mapt 2y ago
  I had a wide panel at one point after a statistically unlikely health event. It was something like 300ml of blood spread over ~40 vials. They tried to charge me $7500. It did lead to a diagnosis.
davikr 2y ago
It's complicated - for screening to be done, the mortality reduction must outweigh the overtreatment and overdiagnosis risks.

leetrout 2y ago

Yes, but insurance does not cover large amounts of screening tests. Last year my A1C check was not covered. In North Carolina my wife's vitamin D test is not covered by her primary or gyno for routine checks.

Sloowms 2y ago

Depends on the country you live in. There are countries that don't do them with similar health results as countries that do them. There is a stereotype that Dutch doctors will prescribe paracetamol for anything because they are really defensive with medication and doctor visits and the result is generally the same as countries that do check ups.