The "Cancer Scare" That Was Actually a Prescription: Why Your Meds Need a Review

Medically Reviewed by Ed Fuentes, D.O. | Board Certified in Family Medicine (1998-2034) February 21, 2026.

Imagine sitting in your doctor’s office and being told your blood work is so abnormal that you need an immediate ultrasound to check for kidney cancer.

This recently happened to a friend of mine. His hemoglobin had spiked to a dangerous 18.9. The panic was real, the stakes were high, and the medical system was ready to shift into high gear for an oncology workup.

But then, they did something simple: a medication review.

Protect your health—and your wallet.

The Mystery Solved: The Jardiance Effect

It turned out the "culprit" wasn't a tumor; it was his heart medication, Jardiance (Empagliflozin). This drug belongs to a class called SGLT2 inhibitors. While they are life-saving for heart and kidney health, they can have a significant effect on your blood counts:

Hemoconcentration: They help the body flush out excess fluid, which makes the red blood cells appear more "concentrated" in a lab test.

Erythropoietin (EPO) Stimulation: Research shows these drugs can stimulate the hormone that tells your body to make more red blood cells.

In my friend's case, the dosage was simply a bit too high for his system. Once his cardiologist reviewed the data and decreased the dose, his hemoglobin stabilized. The "cancer" vanished because it was never there—it was just a physiological response to a pill.

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The "Silent Side Effects" You Might Be Ignoring

My friend’s story is extreme, but medication "mismatches" happen every day. Often, we don't realize a new symptom is actually a side effect of a pill we’ve been taking for years:

The Mystery Cough (ACE Inhibitors): Taking blood pressure meds like Lisinopril? A dry, persistent, hacking cough is a classic side effect.

Swollen Ankles (Amlodipine): If your legs or ankles look like they’re holding water (leg edema), it might be your blood pressure medication rather than your heart.

The Digestive Toll: Opioid pain medications are notorious for causing severe constipation. Conversely, recent antibiotic use can strip away healthy gut bacteria, leading to persistent diarrhea.

Saving Your Health and Your Wallet

A medication review isn't just about safety; it’s about your bank account. Taking unnecessary medications is literally flushing money away.

Stopping the "Prescribing Cascade": This happens when a doctor prescribes a new drug to treat the side effect of an old one. By identifying the root cause, you avoid paying for a second prescription you don't need.

The Financial Impact: Research has shown that structured medication reviews can significantly reduce healthcare costs. One notable study found that for high-risk patients, every dollar spent on a pharmacist-led review provided a massive return in cost avoidance.

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Your "Brown Bag" Checklist

Don’t just tell your doctor what you take; show them. Use the "Brown Bag" method for your next visit:

[ ] Pack the Bottles: Bring every prescription, vitamin, and herbal supplement you take.

[ ] The Specialist Check: Does your family doctor know what your cardiologist or other specialists changed recently?

[ ] Ask Three Questions:

1. "Are any of my current symptoms (cough, swelling, etc.) a side effect of these meds?"

2. "Am I taking two things that do the same job?"

3. "Based on my latest lab work, is this still the right dose for me?"

The Bottom Line: A 15-minute conversation could save you from a terrifying diagnosis, weeks of lost sleep, and hundreds of dollars in unnecessary testing.

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References & Supporting Research from the NIH

1. On SGLT2 Inhibitors & Hemoglobin: * Alleviation of Anemia by SGLT2 Inhibitors in Patients with CKD. (2024). PMC11020424. This paper explains how drugs like Jardiance increase hemoglobin (by ~0.7 g/dL) and hematocrit by stimulating erythropoietin.

2. On Cost-Benefit (The 115:1 Ratio):

   Clinical pharmacist-led medication reconciliation supplemented with medication review in admitted patients with chronic kidney disease: a cost-benefit analysis. (2025). PubMed 40010830 / PMCID PMC11865755. This study found that the net benefit of these reviews resulted in a benefit-to-cost ratio of 115.7:1.

3. On Medication Reconciliation & Safety:

   Medication Reconciliation - Patient Safety and Quality. NCBI Bookshelf (NBK2648). A foundational review stating that systematic reconciliation can increase the accuracy of medication lists from 45% to 95%.

   Economic value of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation for reducing medication errors. PubMed 28557517. Demonstrates how these interventions significantly reduce the costs associated with preventable adverse drug events.

EF