Routine blood test reveals cancer diagnosis before symptoms: 'Caught it early'

A Miami man credits a routine blood test for saving his life.

Ian Ferguson, 37, had no symptoms when he got standard blood work as part of a regular physical. When the test showed microscopic blood loss, his physician recommended a colonoscopy.

That procedure revealed a diagnosis of early-stage colon cancer, leading to life-saving surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

WOMAN'S ALARMING CANCER SYMPTOMS BLAMED ON PREGNANCY FOR YEARS BEFORE STAGE 3 DIAGNOSIS

Ferguson, who works as a safety manager for an elevator company, said he asked for the blood work just because "it had been a while."

When the tests revealed a few anomalies, the doctors recommended that Ferguson take iron pills and return for more blood work the following week. 

"When I went back, it wasn’t the change they were looking for," he told Fox News Digital. 

Because of Ferguson’s age range and the uptick of younger men getting abdominal cancer – along with his family history of the disease – doctors recommended that he undergo a colonoscopy.

"They found a growth," he said. "Thankfully, they caught it early. I was able to get surgery done and get it pulled out."

MOM WITH NO SYMPTOMS HAD STAGE 4 COLORECTAL CANCER — AND A RARE SURGERY SAVED HER LIFE

Because the disease was caught so early, Ferguson did not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation. He is now cancer-free and healthy, only requiring annual colonoscopies.

"I really don't mind if it allows me to find the problem fast, before it turns into a serious mitigation, like walking around with a colostomy bag," he said. "If we find it early, maybe we don't have to do those things."

While Ferguson didn’t have the typical, obvious symptoms of colorectal cancer, he acknowledged that there may have been signs he didn’t recognize, like fatigue.

"I just thought maybe I hit the gym a little harder that day, or maybe I wasn’t getting enough protein, or just didn't get enough sleep," he said. He was also in the midst of moving and starting a new job.

"There's always an excuse, always a reason to not be seen by a professional," Ferguson noted.

HIDDEN VIRUS INSIDE GUT BACTERIA LINKED TO DOUBLED COLORECTAL CANCER RISK, STUDY FINDS

"I'm glad that I was able to take the medical professional's words seriously and move forward, because they were able to find something deadly and take it out."

In light of colorectal cancer affecting people at younger ages, Ferguson recommends that everyone gets regular blood work, regardless of age. "It's not difficult to do – there's really no excuse to not do it." 

Dr. Kiranmayi Palla Muddasani, MD, a staff surgeon in the Department of Colorectal Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center, confirmed that she is seeing a marked increase in younger colorectal cancer patients.

"When I started my practice, I would see maybe one every six months, one or two cases a year. And now I see literally one to two cases a month," she told Fox News Digital.

Muddasani, who treated Ferguson, said she suspects the trend is due to "something in the environment."

"There is no rhyme or reason to it," she said, adding that she has treated triathletes and vegans who were diagnosed.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Many younger patients have persistent anemia as the first warning sign, she noted, which leads to about nine out of 10 colonoscopies.

The doctor recommends getting routine CBCs (complete blood count) and BMPs (basic metabolic panel) yearly or every other year.

Most people who are detected in early stages don't have symptoms, according to Muddasani.

"Most people who have symptoms usually have advanced disease or metastatic disease," she said.

The biggest red flags linked to colorectal cancer include ongoing bleeding, persistent anemia and changes in bowel habits, according to the doctor.

The location of the cancer can also influence symptoms, she noted.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"Patients with right-sided cancers can get to a very advanced stage while having no symptoms," the doctor said. This is likely because the right side of the colon is wider and stool is more liquid, so tumors don’t block things as easily, according to medical sources.

Left-sided cancer patients are more likely to see noticeable signs, such as changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, or cramping and obstruction.

While some risk factors, like age and family history, can’t be controlled, Muddasani said certain lifestyle changes can reduce the chance of colorectal cancers.

"A high-fiber diet is protective," she said. "Exercise is also protective, as is decreasing your BMI to a healthy level."

The doctor also recommends avoiding ultraprocessed foods.

"Having processed meat increases the risk of colon cancer by two to three times, which is a big deal," she said. 

"We can't control everything, but we can control diet, fiber, exercise, avoiding processed meat, just to start with some basics."

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Overall, Muddasani said, it’s critical for people to "listen to their bodies."

"Sometimes I have patients showing up in my office and they can't pinpoint anything specific, but they're like, ‘I don't feel well. I don't feel normal.’ And that's enough to start an investigation."