Registered Charity
No: 1112708

Support our Fundraising
click here

Quick Links:

	Home page
	Aims and Introduction to pancreatic cancer
	What is pancreatic cancer?
	What can PC patients eat?
	Frequently Asked Questions
	Bookmark this page

Search our site using Google

	Pancreaticcancer.org.uk
	The whole web

Risk of Blood Clots in Pancreatic Cancer Patients

The information provided here should not be treated as a medical opinion and expert advice should be sought.

Risk of Blood Clots

Some cancers release certain chemicals that help the blood to clot, or coagulate. This is called 'activating the coagulation system'. It increases the risk of a blood clot developing in a blood vessel. The number of people with pancreatic cancer that develop a blood clot is 1 in 4 (25%). This is a higher rate than for any other cancer.

If someone develops a blood clot, they are treated as soon as possible with a drug that will thin the blood (an anti-coagulant). This helps to disperse the clot, and prevent any more forming.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops in the deep veins of the body. This is most likely to form in the thigh, lower leg or in the area contained by the hipbones (the pelvis). A blood clot can block the normal flow of blood through the veins, which normally carry blood from around the body back to the heart. A blockage like this can cause a number of symptoms.

A blood clot can be very serious if it starts to move through your body because it can end up causing a blockage in your heart or lungs. Therefore a blood clot can be life threatening.

If you suspect the patient has developed a blood clot you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Symptoms of blood clots

The common symptoms of a blood clot are

Pain, redness and swelling around the area where the clot is
The area around the clot may feel warm to touch

If the clot has moved to your lungs (a pulmonary embolism or PE), you will start to feel short of breath and have chest pain.

In pancreatic cancer patients blood clots can often form in the calf and are noticed as calf pain. Blood clots can be mistaken for or dismissed as muscle strains.

Diagnosis and treatment

If a blood clot is suspected the patient may be referred for a doppler ultrasound. However if the clot is very deep it may not be visible on the ultrasound and it may be necessary to repeat the scan eg a week later.

CT scans - also known as computed tomography or "CAT" scans - are effective in diagnosing pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs) and deep venous thrombosis (blood clots in the legs),

If blood clots are found, anti-coagulant therapy is administered. If blood clots are found in the lungs, the patient will remain in the hospital for a few days of observation because anticoagulant therapy with heparin is individualized to the patient. On discharge, patients are typically switched to the oral anticoagulant warfarin.

Alternatively daily injections of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) such as Fragmin(dalteparin) - may be suggested.

Surgery

Pancreatic cancer is associated with a high risk of thombosis which may occur spontaneously. In patients who have to undergo surgery, this risk is increased by the length of the operation, and by the long recovery period. These usually occur in the veins of the legs. It is standard practice to give injections to all patients who are having surgery, to thin the blood and reduce the risk of thrombosis. Patients are also fitted with elastic stockings which keep the veins empty and prevent stagnant blood from clotting, and most hospitals also use mechanical compression of the calves during surgery. Patients are encouraged to get up and move about as soon as possible after surgery to get the blood flowing in their veins.

The combination of these different approaches keeps the incidence of thombosis to a low level.

Further Information on blood clots

information on Cancer and the risk of blood clots from CancerHelp UK

information on Cancer and the risk of blood clots from Cancerbackup