Ten Things You Didn't Know About Blood Clots and Cancer

By Elizabeth Varga, MS; Chair - Education Committee, NBCA

Each year in the US, approximately 1 in 200 cancer patients develop a VTE.
About 10-15% of all patients with VTE have cancer.
Blood clots are the second leading cause of death in cancer patients (infection is the leading cause).
Cancer patients who develop a blood clot have a higher chance of dying. Over 94% of people admitted to the hospital with cancer and VTE will die within 6 months, compared to 40% of people admitted to the hospital with cancer alone.
Approximately 1 in 7 hospitalized cancer patients who die, die from pulmonary embolism.
40%-80% of cancer patients who have surgery will develop a DVT and 4-10% will develop PE without
preventive treatment.
Once a cancer patient develops a first episode of VTE, he or she has 3 times the risk of developing a second clot as compared to non-cancer patients.
All cancer patients should be aware of the signs and symptoms of DVT and PE.
All cancer patients should discuss their risk of VTE and whether they would benefit from preventive treatment with their doctors.
Blood clots in cancer patients can often be prevented with appropriate preventive treatment.

Lee AY and Levine MN. Circulation. 2003; 107:I-17-I-21. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism, 2008. Elting L. Arch Intern Med 204; 164:1653-1661.Pradoni P, et al. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 125:1-7.

Click here to return to our news page.

Click here to visit our FAQs section for patients.

Click here to visit our patient story section.

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Blood Clots and Cancer

By Elizabeth Varga, MS; Chair - Education Committee, NBCA

Each year in the US, approximately 1 in 200 cancer patients develop a VTE.

About 10-15% of all patients with VTE have cancer.

Blood clots are the second leading cause of death in cancer patients (infection is the leading cause).

Cancer patients who develop a blood clot have a higher chance of dying. Over 94% of people admitted to the hospital with cancer and VTE will die within 6 months, compared to 40% of people admitted to the hospital with cancer alone.

Approximately 1 in 7 hospitalized cancer patients who die, die from pulmonary embolism.

40%-80% of cancer patients who have surgery will develop a DVT and 4-10% will develop PE without preventive treatment.

Once a cancer patient develops a first episode of VTE, he or she has 3 times the risk of developing a second clot as compared to non-cancer patients.

All cancer patients should be aware of the signs and symptoms of DVT and PE.

All cancer patients should discuss their risk of VTE and whether they would benefit from preventive treatment with their doctors.

Blood clots in cancer patients can often be prevented with appropriate preventive treatment.

40%-80% of cancer patients who have surgery will develop a DVT and 4-10% will develop PE without
preventive treatment.