Cancer

How Common Blood Tests Can Help Detect Cancer in Patients with Abdominal Pain or Bloating

Jasmine C

09 Aug 2025 — 2 min read

blood test

What Did the Research Discover?

Researchers investigated whether common blood tests could help identify hidden cancers in patients experiencing abdominal pain or bloating. Diagnosing cancer in people with these nonspecific symptoms is challenging, and while blood tests are commonly used in primary care, their effectiveness in predicting cancer risk was previously unclear.

The study analyzed data from over 477,000 patients in the UK who visited their doctor with abdominal pain or bloating. They found that certain abnormal blood test results significantly increased the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis within the next year, especially in patients aged 60 and older. Even in younger patients (30-59 years old), specific blood test abnormalities—such as high ferritin, low albumin, raised platelets, and inflammation markers—increased cancer risk beyond the UK’s 3% referral threshold, meaning these patients might benefit from urgent cancer investigations.

The study concluded that combining blood test results with symptoms, age, and sex provides a more accurate assessment of cancer risk than using symptoms alone. This approach could increase early cancer detection and lead to faster specialist referrals for patients at risk.

How Can I Apply This Information?

If you or a loved one experiences abdominal pain or bloating, especially if you are over 60, it’s important to discuss the possibility of further cancer screening with a doctor. If abnormal blood test results are present, additional testing may be needed even if symptoms seem mild.

For healthcare providers, this research suggests that routine blood tests can improve early cancer detection in patients with nonspecific symptoms. Doctors may consider urgent referrals for further testing in patients whose blood test abnormalities indicate an elevated cancer risk, even if their initial symptoms appear mild.

This study highlights the importance of early intervention and suggests that expanding the use of blood test results in risk assessment could lead to earlier cancer diagnoses and better outcomes for patients.

Source:

Rafiq M, Renzi C, White B, Zakkak N, Nicholson B, Lyratzopoulos G, Barclay M. Predictive value of abnormal blood tests for detecting cancer in primary care patients with nonspecific abdominal symptoms: A population-based cohort study of 477,870 patients in England. PLoS Medicine. 2024 Jul 30;21(7):e1004426. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39078806/

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