Follow-up blood tests

[suef]

Sorry, this is an additional point about the follow-up after a Whipple. I forwarded my blood test & scan results to my surgeons in Belgium and they noted that they would have tested levels of vitamins A,D,E,K in addition to the tests done here. Any comments on this? Thanks in advance!

[PCUK Nurse Jeni]

Hi Sue,

Sorry not to have answered this before now.

Yes, other countries do dwell a lot more on vitamin levels etc...The concern would be that with enzyme deficiency, there is a possibility of a person also malabsorbing some of these vitamins.

I think here in the UK they are less likely to do these bloods, unless there are clear indications of symptoms of vitamin deficiency.

I once worked with a locum consultant oncologist from USA, and he routinely tested triglycerides and cholesterol in patients on tamoxifen. When I asked our regular consultant about it on her return, she made light of it, and said it was unnecessary. I think it is just a different way of practising, unfortunately.

Jeni.