How to Read Your Results #1: CBC Labs

Dr. JYP kicks off a three-part series focused on understanding the most common medical reports received by Cancering patients. In the first episode, she discusses the basics of the Complete Blood Count, or CBC, which shows levels of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, highlighting the implications for high or low counts, especially for cancer patients. She also addresses treatments and precautions for those with low blood counts, urging listeners to feel empowered to understand their lab reports and to ask questions of their healthcare providers.
 

3 Key Episode Takeaways

1. Understanding your CBC: Dr. JYP breaks down the importance of the white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), and platelets (PLT) — what these numbers mean and why they matter in the context of cancer treatment.

2. Patient portals matter: Learn why signing up for a patient portal is important for managing your health records, ensuring effective communication with your healthcare team, and staying informed about your test results.

3. Empower yourself with knowledge: From recognizing signs of infection to understanding anemia and its treatments, Dr. JYP arms you with the information you need to confidently discuss your lab results and their ramifications with your doctor.

Show Overview:

01:23  Welcome to the series: How to Read Your Lab Results.
04:32  Communicating with your care team on a patient portal.
10:16  When your numbers say wear a mask and avoid crowds.
11:35  What critically low neutrophils can mean.
16:58  Everything you wanted to know about anemia.
19:39  Platelets and chemotherapy and time.
22:27  Cutting-edge cancer research at the Mitchell Cancer Institute.