Cancer often shows up in lab work before it shows up on imaging. By the time a tumor is large enough to be seen on a scan, the internal environment that allowed it to grow has often been altered for years. Some of the patterns I frequently see: ⬇️ 1. Iron overload. Ferritin creeping above 150–200. Elevated transferrin saturation. Excess iron fuels oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation—pro-growth environment. 2. Elevated estradiol (especially unopposed) High estradiol relative to progesterone.