12/18/2025
Here are 6 blood markers we often monitor in the context of cancer prevention, risk and overall health. Some of these may be outside a standard annual panel, but they can provide early clues years before symptoms appear:
🩸hs-CRP: a marker of chronic inflammation. Even mild elevations can be problematic and may reflect systemic stress or underlying processes that can influence increased cancer risk.
🩸Ferritin: a measure of iron storage but also know to be an “acute phase reactant.”. Higher ferritin can be associated with increased oxidative stress and may relate to increased tumor growth potential in some cases.
🩸Fasting insulin: reflects insulin sensitivity. Cancer cells can thrive in insulin-resistant environments; optimizing insulin sensitivity can be extremely protective against all disease processes.
🩸Vitamin D: optimal levels are associated with better outcomes in several cancers; deficiency may correlate with higher risk, increased risk of recurrence or poorer prognosis.
🩸Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR): a sign of immune balance. Increases can show up before disease and reflect systemic immune dysregulation or inflammation.
🩸Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]: a genetically influenced marker linked to inflammatory pathways, with higher potential for cardiovascular risk and some cancer cases.
These markers can shift years before any symptoms arise.
Interpreting these values requires looking at the whole picture: other labs, clinical history, nutrition, sleep, stress, toxins, and lifestyle.
We can review your specific results together and discuss functional-medicine strategies to optimize these markers through nutrition, sleep, movement, stress management, and targeted supplements.
