Psychological toxicity in classical hematology

Although considered “benign,” mild blood count abnormalities, genetic factors imparting inconsequential thrombotic risk, and low-risk premalignant blood disorders can have significant psychological and financial impact on our patients. Several studies have demonstrated that patients with noncancerous conditions have increased levels of anxiety with distress similar to those with malignancy. Additionally, referral to a classical hematologist can be a daunting process for many patients due to uncertainties surrounding the reason for referral or misconstrued beliefs in a cancer diagnosis ascribed to the pairing of oncology and hematology in medical practice. If not properly triaged, incidental laboratory abnormalities can trigger extensive and costly evaluation. These challenges are compounded by a lack of consensus guidance and generalizability of modern reference ranges that do not adequately account for common influencing factors. Although often benign, incidental hematologic findings can lead to emotional suffering and careful consideration of the potential psychological and financial duress imparted to an individual must be considered. In this article, we will review the current literature describing the psychological effect of some commonly known hematologic conditions, identify benign causes for variations in hematologic laboratory values, and provide recommendations to reduce psychological toxicity as it pertains to hematologic testing.