What is the prevalence of patients affected?
Approximately one in 15 people with cancer may suffer thrombosis. One in 3 deaths in cancer patients is due to thrombosis, and it is the second leading cause of preventable death in cancer patients. However, 74% of cancer patients are unaware of it.
Is it more serious than cancer with stroke or heart attack?
It seems that they are more at risk of myocardial infarction, but it is known that many cancer patients have strokes, and all this affects long-term survival.
Which tumors are most at risk of thrombosis?
Above all, patients with cancer of the lung, breast, prostate, colon, stomach, etc., as well as oncohematological patients, patients with cancer of the lymph nodes (lymphoma) or bone cancer (myeloma).
What does the treatment consist of?
In venous thrombosis, anticoagulation should be used to “dissolve” the clot; the treatment of choice is direct-acting anticoagulants and, in some situations, it is necessary to switch to heparins. In patients with stroke, it is better to use antiplatelet therapy, such as aspirin.
In some patients with arrhythmia, anticoagulation with direct-acting anticoagulants should be used to prevent stroke.