Heparin for IV flush

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Tethys41
Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I know this topic came up a week or two ago regarding the possible angiogenic effects of heparin and whether it was wise to use it as a flush in your port. I received the following e-mail from my naturopath today:

I'm actually @ an iv seminar with my professors and I asked them about this question. They said that the small amount used to flush the port will not at all cause angiogenesis of tumors. There had been more research that heparin actually is used to treat tumors successfully. I was wrong in my previous email, so please disregard it. The professors said that I should actually be using heparin to flush the ports due to the propencity for cancer patients to clot more. Most likely for skin regeneration, you would use a lot more heparin than you are getting. So I would not worry about the heparin.

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  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    #2
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    I worried about heparin when my platelets dropped low low low.
    My platelets dropped so low on carboplatin that I required an emergency platelet transfusion. I was worried about the Heparin flushes when my blood was already so thin. My oncologist echoed what you are saying, that the small amount of Heparin i was getting couldn't possibly make any difference, one way or the other. I know tomorrow when I get my CT/PET scan that I will have a couple of Heparin flushes, before & after the scan, so it's good to not have another worry.
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #3
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    lindaprocopio said:

    I worried about heparin when my platelets dropped low low low.
    My platelets dropped so low on carboplatin that I required an emergency platelet transfusion. I was worried about the Heparin flushes when my blood was already so thin. My oncologist echoed what you are saying, that the small amount of Heparin i was getting couldn't possibly make any difference, one way or the other. I know tomorrow when I get my CT/PET scan that I will have a couple of Heparin flushes, before & after the scan, so it's good to not have another worry.

    Scans
    Linda,
    I hope your scans tomorrow bring you great news.
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #4
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    heparin
    the last thing they do after blood draw or chemo treatment in put heparin into my port I asked the first time why they were putting a blood thinner in and was told it is to keep from colts building up in the port and travaling to other places. I have had no problems with anything concerning my port I started treatments about four months ago and I am doing fine.

    Anne
  • antcat
    antcat Member Posts: 270
    #5
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    lindaprocopio said:

    I worried about heparin when my platelets dropped low low low.
    My platelets dropped so low on carboplatin that I required an emergency platelet transfusion. I was worried about the Heparin flushes when my blood was already so thin. My oncologist echoed what you are saying, that the small amount of Heparin i was getting couldn't possibly make any difference, one way or the other. I know tomorrow when I get my CT/PET scan that I will have a couple of Heparin flushes, before & after the scan, so it's good to not have another worry.

    Dear Linda
    I hope your scan brings you great news and please let us know how you make out. Good luck.
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #6
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    AnneBehymer said:

    heparin
    the last thing they do after blood draw or chemo treatment in put heparin into my port I asked the first time why they were putting a blood thinner in and was told it is to keep from colts building up in the port and travaling to other places. I have had no problems with anything concerning my port I started treatments about four months ago and I am doing fine.

    Anne

    Thanks for the info
    I appreciate the info--I'd like to see the research that showed heparin as cancer therapy--in addition to providing the benefit of preventing clots. There are other ways to keep clots away besides using anti-coagulants.

    I understand that anything that keeps the blood "slippery" helps to prevent metastasis. So that's where diet is really important for cancer survivors. The standard American diet (lots of white sugar/white flour/white fat) is known for making blood sticky and easier to clot.
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #7
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    lindaprocopio said:

    I worried about heparin when my platelets dropped low low low.
    My platelets dropped so low on carboplatin that I required an emergency platelet transfusion. I was worried about the Heparin flushes when my blood was already so thin. My oncologist echoed what you are saying, that the small amount of Heparin i was getting couldn't possibly make any difference, one way or the other. I know tomorrow when I get my CT/PET scan that I will have a couple of Heparin flushes, before & after the scan, so it's good to not have another worry.

    linda,
    dear sister,

    hoping your ct/pet scan is a good one tomorrow, and brings you and your family happiness. we're all thinking of you. l'shana tova! which is happy new year in hebrew. why not let this be a new year for all of us that would want that.

    sisterhood,
    maggie

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