A Higher Risk for Blood Clots

I was diagnosed with lung cancer because of side effects from a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that traveled to my lung. In 2014, my sister started working in Connecticut as a travel registered nurse. I traveled with her via car to get her settled in. A month or so after I returned home, I was walking on the treadmill, and I had a pain in my calf. It hurt enough that I jumped off the treadmill and went home.

Within the week I started getting an increasing pain in my chest which eventually landed me in the emergency room. They were certain that I had a blood clot often referred to as a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and they administered a D-Dimer test. I did have a blood clot that traveled to my lung. I was admitted into the hospital where more tests were given which included a CT scan. The scan showed a cloudy area which promoted a bronchoscopy and that was how they found cancer in my lung. I was released and started on a blood thinner and have been on one ever since.

Cancer and blood clots go hand-in-hand

What I didn’t know is that lung cancer and blood clots go hand-in-hand. It is said that between 5-25% of cancer patients will get a blood clot. If you do not have a blood clot at diagnosis as I did it is always good to monitor yourself along the way for symptoms and get them checked if you feel it might be a blood clot. Some signs to look out for include pain in the calf of your leg, red or discolored spots on the legs, leg swelling, or a feeling of warmth in the leg. If the blood clot has already traveled to the lung (like mine did) then shortness of breath could be a sign.¹

Experiences with blood thinners

There are a few different blood thinner options. I will talk about the ones that I have experience with. I started on Xarelto but for some reason that did not help the clot in my lung, so I was quickly switched to a twice a day injection of Lovenox. I was not a fan of this drug because it was a shot, but I managed to make it to the point where I only had to get the shot once a day, and then eventually I was switched back to the pill Xarelto and that is what I am on now. I did not get any of the side effects or if I did I could not tell that they were from the blood thinners due to being on other more significant drugs.

It is important to note a few things about being on a blood thinner. Because it is thinning the blood you are at an increased chance of bleeding. A once small cut could turn into a much bigger deal. A few suggestions that I have would include limiting hand washing dishes, participating in low-impact sports, and using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Always tell the nurse that is drawing your blood thinner so that they can apply the correct amount of pressure after taking out the needle.

If you find yourself on a blood thinner and are concerned some things to look into include red or brown urine, discolored stool, bleeding in your mouth that won't stop, severe headache, or bruising. Reach out to your care team if anything like this happens.

Let us know in the comments if you knew that blood clots and cancer are often linked.