Clot risk in cancer patients should not be ignored, expert says

ANTALYA, Türkiye

National Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Association board member Prof. Dilek Erer said on Thursday that clot risk in cancer patients should not be ignored.

One in every four cancer patients may have a clot which can be prevented by shaping the patient's treatment accordingly, Erer told Anadolu in an interview.

The secretary-general of the association said clotting is an important risk factor that affects everyone regardless of gender, age, or race.

Stating that the clot affects the arteries and veins in the body, Erer said: "When we say clot, we socially understand it as a heart attack. It can cause death by affecting the arteries in our hearts, but it is not the only issue. There are arteries in our body other than the heart. They travel to nourish our organs at the thinnest point of our body. They provide blood and oxygen to our organs."

"They carry the necessary nutrients. Clots can occur not only in the heart but also in all vessels," she added.

Erer also stated that the most common death due to clots is heart attack.

Pointing out that standing, sitting and flying for a long time increase the risk of clots, Erer further recommended that those who have to sit or stand for a long time should use compression socks or some devices.

Compression socks apply pressure to the lower legs, helping to maintain blood flow and reduce discomfort and swelling.

Mentioning that cancer is one of the most common causes of death, Erer said: "Cancer patients have a higher tendency to clot. That's why we need to raise social awareness. Sometimes the patient comes with a clot complaint, and we diagnose cancer. One in every four cancer patients has a clot. Cancer patients usually come to us with a clot either in the vein in their legs or in the lung."

Stating that drugs and injections have been developed according to the nature and degree of the clot, Erer said: "There are medications that we can use to treat patients. We can enter the clot through a tiny hole and remove it from its location with surgical procedures. If we cannot remove the clot, we place an umbrella, which we call a filter, in the vein in the abdomen to prevent it from going to the lungs."

Emphasizing that the slowdown of blood flow in the vein, damage to the vein wall and genetic predisposition cause clots in the veins, Erer stated that the main vein in the legs is most affected.

Stating that there is a risk of blood clots forming in the legs being thrown into the lungs, Erer said: "When it is thrown into the lungs, it causes death. According to research, more than half of those with clots in the main veins of their legs throw clots into their lungs, and one-third of them die."

Explaining that sudden swelling, bruising, temperature increase and pain in the leg are symptoms of a clot in the main veins in the legs, Erer added that when a clot passes into the lungs without any symptoms, complaints of sudden shortness of breath, back pain and severe cough are observed.