A cancer diagnosis: it’s something most of us dread, but which many people will have to deal with at some point.
According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), one in two people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. And while not every case of cancer is lethal, it is still a major killer of people worldwide.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer accounts for nearly one in six deaths worldwide. Anyone diagnosed with cancer should also prepare themselves to deal with secondary issues, including an increased risk of blood clots.
Cancer, patient, and treatment risks
Patients with cancer are at increased risk of blood clots in both the veins (VTE) and arteries (Arterial Thromboembolism). In fact, emerging data shows that cancer patients are at four times higher risk than the general population of developing serious blood clots.
It’s a startling fact; but important to know if you or a loved one is undergoing treatment for cancer, says Dr Henry Ddungu, medical expert and spokesperson for the World Thrombosis Day (WTD) campaign.
“The relationship between cancer and thrombosis is complex, with a variety of factors determining how much risk someone faces. There are different factors that can increase the risk of a patient developing an embolism. Some are cancer-related – there, we’re talking about the type and size of cancer, the state, the grade, and the time interval – some are patient-related, and some are treatment-related.”
There are some cancers that are known to have a high risk of developing thrombosis, says Dr Ddungu. For instance, with haematological malignancies like lymphomas and multiple myelomas, the risk of developing VTEs is high.
The risk is also high for lung cancers, pancreatic cancers, stomach cancers, bowel cancers, and even brain cancers.
By contrast, prostate and breast cancers come with lower VTE risks. While the reasons for this increased risk of some cancers are unknown at this stage, patients should still be aware of it and ensure that they know what to look out for.
Another cancer-related risk has to do with what stage the patient is at.
According to Dr. Ddungu, at the early stage, the risk is not as high as when the patient is at an advanced stage. And when there is disease metastasis, where the disease has spread to other parts of the body, the risk is higher.
“Timing can also play a role, with the risk of developing a VTE is highest in the immediate three months following a diagnosis. Among the patient-related factors, age, race, and a prior history of VTE can all play a role in determining risk,” he says.
When someone has high platelet counts, their risk of developing clots in cancer is also higher. The same is true for anyone with comorbidities such as renal failure and varicose veins.
The treatment option a cancer patient chooses to go with in consultation with their medical team can also play a role in blood clot risks. For example, surgery is a major risk factor for developing thrombosis.
“Chemotherapy, a type of cancer treatment that uses one or several drugs in combination, and surgery can additionally damage the walls of your blood vessels, affecting the way they function and making clots more likely. Hormone therapy for breast cancer can also play a role, as can the drugs used to treat secondary conditions, such as anaemia and neutropenia,” says Dr Ddungu.
And, while there are times when a cancer patient needs to be hospitalised, that also heightens the risk.
Know the signs
It’s critical, therefore, that anyone facing a cancer diagnosis ensure that they’re properly informed when it comes to blood clots. They should also make sure that their families and support networks are equally well-informed.
Warning signs of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg, for example, can include swelling, pain, tenderness, warmth, and redness.
For a pulmonary embolism (PE), which occurs when a blood clot gets caught in an artery in the lung, the warning signs include unexplained shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain, a rapid heart rate, and a feeling of light-headedness or passing out.
“The increased risk of blood clots also makes it even more important that, wherever possible, patients minimise the likelihood of their development by keeping active,” concludes Dr Ddungu. Even if you’re on bed rest, you might be allowed to occasionally walk around the house or do some leg exercises in bed, at least. Whatever the case, it’s critical that you keep your legs moving and your circulation flowing.
