In multivariate analysis including dichotomized CRP, IL‐6, YKL‐40, CEA, CA 19‐9, age (continuous), sex, BMI (categorised), PS, CCI and a former cancer diagnosis, CRP (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.39–4.66, p = 0.003), CEA (OR = 4.22, 2.13–8.34, p < 0.001), a 10‐year increase in age (OR = 1.42, 1.13–1.80, p = 0.003) and BMI 25–30 (OR = 1.66, 1.08–2.55, p = 0.022) were associated with a cancer diagnosis (Figure 2C). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and cancer.