How this fits in

Microcytosis has long been recognised as being comorbid with iron deficiency and with haemoglobinopathies. Similarly, iron deficiency has been identified as a feature of some cancers, particularly colorectal. However, the relationship between microcytosis and other cancers is largely unknown, including the importance of microcytosis without anaemia. This study found an overall cancer risk of 6.2% in males aged ≥40 years, and 2.7% in females aged ≥40 years, with colorectal and lung cancer being the most common. Furthermore, even with a normal haemoglobin count, microcytosis represents a small but significant risk of underlying cancer.