A thrombosis can also indicate a cancer

Pulmonary embolism due to thrombosis: One of the leading causes of death in cancer patients

According to health experts, hundreds of thousands of people in Germany suffer from thrombosis each year. If left untreated, it can result in, among other things, a pulmonary embolism that sometimes ends in death. What many people are unaware of: thrombosis can also indicate a tumor disease.

Mutual relationship of tumors and thrombosis

Even the diagnosis of cancer is a stroke of fate for all concerned, the therapy is enormously complicated. But that's not all: the risk of heart attacks and strokes also increases as a result of the tumor disease. In addition, 20 percent of cancer patients develop thrombosis in the course of their illness. However, the relationship between tumor diseases and thromboses is mutually exclusive: even in 20 percent of all thrombosis cases, a tumor disease is discovered.

Thrombosis can be an indication of a tumor disease. According to health experts, pulmonary embolism is one of the leading causes of death in cancer patients. (Image: tibanna79 / fotolia.com)

High age as the main risk factor

Age is the main risk factor for thrombosis. This forms a blood clot (thrombus), which can constrict a vessel or completely clogged.

If this clot is flushed into the lungs, it can cause pulmonary embolism, which is often fatal.

According to health experts, the danger increases significantly from the age of 60 years.

Also people with varicose veins, a lung or heart disease and smokers, obese and women who take certain birth control pills, have an increased risk of thrombosis.

First indication of a tumor

Cancer also increases the risk of thrombosis. As the action alliance explains thrombosis in a statement on World Thrombosis Day, hides behind about 20 percent of all thrombosis cases, a tumor disease.

Prof. Rupert Bauersachs, Angiologist and head of the action alliance Thrombose, therefore appeals: "Persons over the age of 50, who suffer a thromboembolic event without a trigger, require a more intensive history and should necessarily have appropriate check-ups performed."

According to the expert, this is especially the GPs, angiologists and phlebologists asked, "so those who are usually the first to get the patient to see."

The communication of the German Society for Angiology - Society for Vascular Medicine e.V., published by the Information Service Science (idw), also explains why the risk of thrombosis in cancer is increased:

A tumor disease thus increases the coagulation ability of the blood. That is, the blood clots faster. The more aggressive the tumor growth, the higher the risk of thrombosis.

For this reason, deep vein thrombosis and superficial venous thrombosis are often the first indication of a tumor.

Life-threatening consequences

An undiscovered thrombosis quickly becomes a mortal danger. "Their sequelae, the pulmonary embolism is one of the leading causes of death in cancer patients," explains Prof. Hanno Riess, oncologist and hematologist from the Berlin Charité.

Because there are often several strong risk factors, such as surgery, bedtime, chemo, radiation or infection, thrombosis prophylaxis is less effective.

The action alliance thrombosis therefore demands a special sensitivity in these patients.

Treatment must be guided by the guidelines

"The thrombosis therapy of an oncological patient is an individual decision of the treating physician after consultation with the patient," says Prof. Rupert Bauersachs.

"The role of the tumor as well as the treatment, the risk of bleeding and the distinction between stable and unstable states play an important role."

The action alliance Thrombose advocates a unified and interdisciplinary treatment scheme for cancer patients suffering from thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

The fact that there is no uniform therapy regimen in most clinics is reflected in the differences in discharge letters. The consequences of inadequate prophylaxis or therapy can be devastating, according to the experts.

Action Day contributes to the education

October 13th is World Thrombosis Day. This day, announced by the International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis Research (ISTH), aims to raise awareness worldwide of thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

The action alliance Thrombose is the official partner of the ISTH in Germany.

"Many people underestimate the risk of thrombosis," said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, who supports the activities of the action alliance thrombosis.

"Therefore, more education about the origins and possibilities of prevention and therapy is very important."

According to the experts, over 40,000 people in Germany die each year as a result of a pulmonary embolism. More deaths than traffic accidents, breast and prostate cancer and HIV combined.

Most common cause is a thrombosis. This can meet people of all ages. Just over 370,000 new cases of thrombosis, phlebitis and thrombophlebitis are registered each year. Around 50,000 people suffer from a pulmonary embolus per year. (Ad)