Question 1

importance of barely elevated d-dimer (101ng/ml with ref range .01-100) w/ normal cbc, inr, pt, appt? no pe/clot. 4lb weight loss. cancer likely?

Accepted Answer

Cancer and D-Dimer: Anything is possible and therefore you need to see your primary care physician for evaluation. D-Dimer is not sensitive test for any one particular problem but is a specific test. If negative (normal), it helps exclude several conditions, most importantly DVT or PE. If positive, it does not help much because you have to figure out why it is elevated (low sensitivity).

Question 2

my brother has a pe and a mass on lung with thyroid nodules. never smoked. he is hospital 5 days inr still 1.1. cat scan says possiable cancer. how will we know for sure ?

Accepted Answer

Biopsy when stable: The current studies suggest that there may be a cancer. The source could be the lung or thyroid. This could also be benign, but with the pe it will need further workup.
After the pe is stabilized a biopsy is the only way to know.

Question 3

my inr level increased, but i haven't changed my diet. it was supposed to remain 2.0-3.0. today, it was 3.2. my leg began to hurt is this the cause?

Accepted Answer

Not the cause.: Don't think the pain in your keg caused your inr to go up to 3.2. The inr typically fluctuates when you take warfarin (coumadin). 3.2 isn't bad, with small adjustments it should back to within range.

Question 4

read an article on the drug metformin 500 er that many companies recalled for high levels of ndma that causes cancer. called the pharmacy and they said they are using this popular drug and change to ir is not good for kidney for age 70 plus. is it ok?

Accepted Answer

: If kidney function bad beware all metformin.  Are his kidneys bad? Do not know difference between ER AND IR to be able to help. Good reason not to use abbreviations. Go to drugs.com for more details.

Question 5

what causes hemoglobin and hematocrit to be low but mcv levels, iron, and ferritin levels are normal. been having this problem for 8mths no blood in stool. guaiac test was normal. bowel changes mostly soft stool w/ mucus. could this be colon cancer?

Accepted Answer

: Chronic normochromic, normocytic anemia with normal iron parameters,normal Vit B12 levels and normal serum electrophoresis to rule out multiple myeloma can be caused by chronic inflammation. If you or your physician are still concerned, consult a hematologist for evaluation and advice.

Question 6

can the change in seasons affect your inr levels?

Accepted Answer

No: Inr levels are not affected by climate.

Question 7

can cancer cause high cortisol levels?

Accepted Answer

Yes: A spot elevated cortisol means nothing. Appropriate follow-up is a Dexamethasone suppression test, 24 hour urinary cortisol, maybe others if cushingism is a possibility, then a workup for the possible causes, one of which is an adrenal cancer. If you suspect you have cancer, there are better ways of looking for it; i'm glad you had your colonoscopy. Best wishes.

Question 8

could high prolactin levels cause cancer?

Accepted Answer

Prolactin and cancer: It may be produced by a tumor or a cancer but a high prolactin level isn't likely to cause a cancer.  Still, in women with very high levels who don't have regular menstrual cycles, the endometrial tissue can become abnormal.

Question 9

if cancer was to cause elevated ferritin levels, how high would the levels get?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends on the type of cancer. The highest levels are seen in an uncommon entity called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. You may consult this site for more information on this entity.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/hematology_and_blood_disorders/hemophagocytic_lymphohistiocystosis_134,212/

Question 10

what could cause my inr to be 1.9 last week, and 4.4 this week with no diet or medication changes?  can lupus anticoag. do it?

Accepted Answer

INR: There are a bunch of things which can cause variation of inr which is why we monitor with at least every two week inrs when the patient is on warfarin. One of the things is also lab error. Lupus anticoag could contribute to an abnormal inr measurement.  As inr of 4 can be associated with excess bleeding should get the situation clarified by your doc.

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Doctor answers about:

Can cancer cause inr levels to change

A member asked:

Importance of barely elevated d-dimer (101ng/ml with ref range .01-100) w/ normal cbc, inr, pt, appt? no pe/clot. 4lb weight loss. cancer likely?

A member asked:

My brother has a pe and a mass on lung with thyroid nodules. never smoked. he is hospital 5 days inr still 1.1. cat scan says possiable cancer. how will we know for sure ?

A member asked:

My inr level increased, but i haven't changed my diet. it was supposed to remain 2.0-3.0. today, it was 3.2. my leg began to hurt is this the cause?

A member asked:

Read an article on the drug metformin 500 er that many companies recalled for high levels of ndma that causes cancer. called the pharmacy and they said they are using this popular drug and change to ir is not good for kidney for age 70 plus. is it ok?

A member asked:

What causes hemoglobin and hematocrit to be low but mcv levels, iron, and ferritin levels are normal. been having this problem for 8mths no blood in stool. guaiac test was normal. bowel changes mostly soft stool w/ mucus. could this be colon cancer?

A member asked:

Can the change in seasons affect your inr levels?

A member asked:

Can cancer cause high cortisol levels?

A member asked:

Could high prolactin levels cause cancer?

A member asked:

If cancer was to cause elevated ferritin levels, how high would the levels get?

A member asked:

What could cause my inr to be 1.9 last week, and 4.4 this week with no diet or medication changes? can lupus anticoag. do it?

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