I think my cancer's back.

Hello Starlady7

My name is George, and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse specialists on the Support line. I’m so sorry to read that you are incredibly concerned about the return of your sarcoma based on a blood test you have recently had before your planned scan. I understand you have been on the internet and are worried that it mentioned that cancer can cause raised Ferritin. Blood tests can cause worry, especially when having been through what you have experienced and when reading about such causes as cancer.

Your consultant will be the best placed to answer these questions once they have reviewed the blood test, but I wanted to write a little more about this below. Unfortunately, we do not have access to personal NHS records here at Macmillan and can only give general information and support. We always advise discussing this with your healthcare team at the hospital.

I understand the information you have read online regarding Ferritin and your concern regarding this and your previous diagnosis. I must stress that there are so many causes for raised ferritin levels. It can be natural to focus and worry about one specific cause, but there are more common causes associated with inflammation caused by non-cancer causes, which are easily treated. The most common cause of high Ferritin is iron overload. Iron overload can be caused by over-supplementing the diet with iron or by conditions such as an overactive thyroid, inflammation from age-related arthritis, and some medications, to mention just a few.

I can only imagine how this must have caused distress over the weekend. Still, discussing this further with your specialist nurse or consultant today may help alleviate some of your fears and answer your questions and worries regarding this result.

I hope this information has been useful, please contact us whenever we can help.

Take care.  

George

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist  

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. Ref GHi/VG

Thank you! 

I was aware of the difference between Wikipedia and an oncologist, but that sounds like my odds are much better than I thought. 

I'm actually in Spain. I left a message with my oncologist's nurse this morning, and I'm hoping she'll call this afternoon. She usually calls after 3 pm when she's finished with in-person surgery. Presumably there will be tests of some sort, but you've helped me bite my nails less.

I went to a party the night before my blood test. Would a few hours of more sugar, alcohol and exercise be likely to affect ferratin?

Oncology still haven't got back to me. I'll be calling them tomorrow.

Hello Starlady7

Thanks for getting back in touch.

My name is Helen, I am one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line and a colleague of George.

I’m glad you found his response helpful, and I hope the nurse specialist has now been in touch.

With reference to alcohol, sugar, exercise and ferritin levels. Yes, alcohol can raise ferritin levels, as can exercise-induced inflammation (I read that as inflammation cause by excessive physical activity). And high blood glucose levels can also correlate with a raised ferritin.

I am not sure if a one-off increase of intake and activity, such as a party, would have increased the level, but certainly there are links to all three and to a higher ferritin rate.

Starlady7, I sincerely hope that your specialist team can give you swift and useful information regarding your blood test and help allay your worry.  

I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.

The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Best wishes, Helen

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

Ref HM/ AMc

They finally got back to me and said they're not a bit worried about my ferritin levels and I should relax. 

Thanks very much for the reassurance. 

I suppose it's been a chance to learn about my own psychology.

Good news, and thank you for taking the time to let us know. 

All the best, Helen