Cancer and DVT
Almost anyone who's fighting cancer is at risk for developing DVT; in fact,
more than 90 percent of patients with cancer may be at risk for DVT29 and complications from
DVT are the second leading cause of death among cancer patients. Additionally, more
than 50 percent of people who died from certain cancers had developed a DVT.30
Cancer may put you at an increased risk for blood clots because:3
- Surgery or chemotherapy may injure blood vessel walls, causing the blood to clot
- Certain types of cancer treatments may reduce the body’s ability to produce blood
clotting agents called anticoagulants
Your risk for developing DVT may be increased if you have cancer of the:
31
- Ovaries
- Pancreas
- Lymphatic system
- Liver
- Stomach and colon
Undergoing chemotherapy may increase the likeliness of DVT, putting cancer patients
at even higher risk while undergoing this treatment.31 For people receiving chemotherapy, the risk of DVT can be twice as high as people free of cancer.31
Complications from DVT blood clots kill up to 300,000 people in the U.S. each year
— more than AIDS and breast cancer combined.
The good news is, in most cases, DVT blood clots can be prevented.
Use the DVT Risk
Assessor to learn more about your risk factors for DVT blood clots. And
don't forget to speak with your healthcare professional to find out whether you
or a loved one could be at risk, and what you can do to minimize your risk.