Dr. JYP continues a three-part series focused on understanding the most common medical reports received by Cancering patients. In this second episode, she discusses blood chemistry panels. She explains common abbreviations suck as BNP (basic metabolic panel) and CNP (comprehensive metabolic panel), guiding listeners through key components including sodium (NA), potassium (K), magnesium (MAG), kidney function tests (BUN and creatinine), and glucose levels. She discusses the importance of understanding normal ranges, the potential causes for abnormalities and the most common questions patients ask their doctors.

3 Key Episode Takeaways

1. The basics of metabolic panels: Learn the abbreviations and symbols for NA (sodium), K (potassium), and MAG (magnesium), and how they relate to your overall health.

2. Kidney function explained: Understand the importance of BUN and creatinine levels, and what they can indicate about your hydration status and kidney health.

3. Liver function and more: Get insights into ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels, and learn about the significance of albumin and glucose in your metabolic panel.

Show Overview:

02:15 What to know about results within the normal range and outside the range.

4:40 How could I be dehydrated from drinking too much “free water?”

06:15 How your kidneys manage sodium, potassium and magnesium.

09:18 Numbers that indicate pre-diabetes or result in an immediate diagnosis of diabetes.

12:01 Liver function tests and what they mean.

15:59 Hemoglobin A1C measures blood glucose levels over the past three months.

19:00 Check out the previous episode of reviewing CBC results. Next up, pathology reports.