If you suspect you may have symptoms of leukemia, you may have seen several options for at-home kits. While these options may be convenient, we have a lineup of better options for such circumstances.
With the rise of telehealth, home health tests, and mail-in genetic testing kits, there are now more tools than ever to help you keep tabs on your health and perhaps even lead the way to helpful lifestyle changes.
Read on to see what you canlearn about your health from certain types of home health test kits.
There’s no single test that can detect leukemia, and it’s even more difficult to try to detect this cancer on your own at home.
While there are companies that advertise home testing kits for looking for genes that may contribute to cancer, these aren’t diagnostictests.
So while you may be able to see if you have genetic markers for future cancer development, there’s currently no home test available that can tell you whether you have leukemia currently.
Possible tests available for home use can give you an idea of your overall health and risk factors, but they can’t diagnose leukemia. Some of these options include home genetic screenings as well as complete blood counts (CBCs) done at a lab without a doctor’s order.
However, such tests shouldn’t replace those conducted by a healthcare professional. Depending on your findings as well as your symptoms, you can also choose to have further testing done, as discussed below.
When considering testing for leukemia, it’s important to know the differences between diagnostic and genetic screenings.
Diagnostic tests for leukemia
The purpose of diagnostic screenings is to look for leukemia that’s already present. In some cases, these tests may be part of your routine CBC at your annual doctor’s visit.
A CBC is the first test considered for leukemia and other blood disorders. It measures white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), platelets, and other important features.
A CBC may show elevated WBCs and decreased RBCs and platelets in leukemia. However, such results could be related to other health conditions and aren’t exclusive to leukemia.
Other diagnostic testing for leukemia may include a combination of the following:
- urine tests
- bone marrow biopsies
- cytogenic tests that look for chromosome changes
- lymph node biopsies
- imaging tests, such as MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound
- lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
Genetic testing for leukemia
If you’re concerned about assessing your personal risk for developing chronic forms of leukemia, you may consider genetic testing. Such tests are helpful in determining future risks and may not be the best choice for confirming possible current leukemia symptoms.
While genetic testing doesn’t replace diagnostic testing for leukemia,
It’s also important to know that the presence of certain gene markers in your test results doesn’t mean you’ll develop leukemia in the future. What these tests can do, however, is make you more aware of your personal risk factors so you can follow up with a doctor for regular blood tests.
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in your bone marrow. In adults, most cases are chronic, meaning that the symptoms may develop gradually over many years. Acute leukemia, on the other hand, develops more suddenly.
It’s always a good idea to err on the side of caution and consult a doctor if you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms.
Symptoms associated with leukemia include:
- low grade fever
- night sweats
- fatigue
- anemia
- easy bruising or bleeding
- frequent infections
- pale skin
- unintentional weight loss
- swollen lymph nodes, such as those in your neck, armpits, or groin
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, diagnostic testing can be critical in determining whether these are related to leukemia or another possible health condition.
While there’s not yet a test that’s capable of diagnosing leukemia at home, you dohave options you can consider if you’re not able to consult a doctor in person right away.
Here’s what you can do in the meantime:
Schedule a telehealth visit
A telehealth visit with a doctor may help save time and money from seeing a physician in person. This may be most appropriate if you:
- are experiencing possible symptoms of leukemia, and would like advice on how best to proceed
- have concerns about leaving your home, such as in the case of high areas of COVID-19 transmission
- are interested in learning more about leukemia more generally
- need a referral to a specialist
However, if you’re experiencing more severe symptoms, there’s a good chance a healthcare professional will want to see you in person. When in doubt, you can call the doctor’s office and ask the receptionist which option might be best for your particular situation.
If you have insurance, be sure to check with your plan provider to see if telehealth visits are covered. Some insurance companies even have their own group of doctors who may set up telehealth visits at a nominal fee.
Order a CBC test
If you’re interested in ordering a CBC test without a doctor’s visit, you may do so through an independent lab. For example, LabCorp makes it so you can sign up for a CBC, take a test at a location closest to you, and then receive the results at home.
While such CBC tests shouldn’t replace those ordered by a doctor, getting one in between your annual visits may offer peace of mind. Depending on the results of your platelet, RBC, and WBC counts, the information can help you determine your next steps.
As with telehealth visits, you should make sure that your health insurance covers a drop-in CBC test. If not, ask the lab about out-of-pocket offers.
Reach out to cancer treatment centers
If you have a new leukemia diagnosis or you’re concerned you might have this cancer, you may consider reaching out to cancer treatment specialists in your area.
Depending on your initial evaluation, some nonprofit centers may also be able to help you afford cancer screenings and payments.
Consider the following cancer treatment specialists you can contact from home to get started:
Leukemia diagnostic testing is done at a doctor’s office. This can include a combination of blood and urine tests, biopsies, and imaging scans.
While some genetic screenings are available for home testing, these can’t replace more in-depth versions you may be able to obtain from a doctor or genetic specialist. At-home genetic testing mayidentify risk factors for cancer, but these kits can’t actually diagnose the presence of any cancers.
If you have concerns about your leukemia risk and overall health, you may consider starting with a telehealth visit or contacting a cancer center for advice. You may also be able to order a CBC on your own for further peace of mind.
For any immediate concerns or worsening symptoms, seek medical care right away.