Research from Duke University has found blood clots are more common in cancer patients than doctors may realize.
An analysis of more than 30,000 cancer patients found as many as one in five patients are at risk of developing a blood clot within a year of getting treatment.
In up to 2% of cases, the clots are deadly.
The risk of developing a clot within four months of starting treatment varied widely depending on the type of cancer diagnosed. Bladder cancer carries the lowest risk, at 4.8%, while pancreatic cancer has the highest risk at 11.9%.
Cancer patients who develop clots require more medication and hospitalization, which can increase the cost of treatment, the researchers said.
Lead author Gary H. Lyman said scientists don't fully understand why clots form during cancer treatment, but have identified certain contributing factors, including blood clotting agents released by tumours, side-effects of chemotherapy, and pre-existing health conditions such as obesity and anemia.
The study will be reported at the European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress in Stockholm on Sept. 26.
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/20/blood-clots-more-common-than-thought-study
An analysis of more than 30,000 cancer patients found as many as one in five patients are at risk of developing a blood clot within a year of getting treatment.
In up to 2% of cases, the clots are deadly.
The risk of developing a clot within four months of starting treatment varied widely depending on the type of cancer diagnosed. Bladder cancer carries the lowest risk, at 4.8%, while pancreatic cancer has the highest risk at 11.9%.
Cancer patients who develop clots require more medication and hospitalization, which can increase the cost of treatment, the researchers said.
Lead author Gary H. Lyman said scientists don't fully understand why clots form during cancer treatment, but have identified certain contributing factors, including blood clotting agents released by tumours, side-effects of chemotherapy, and pre-existing health conditions such as obesity and anemia.
The study will be reported at the European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress in Stockholm on Sept. 26.
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/20/blood-clots-more-common-than-thought-study
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