blood clots

sleepless in jersey
sleepless in jersey Member Posts: 185
in Lung Cancer #1
Does anyone have any info. on if they ever had a blood clot do to cancer?
The Doc's are telling us its common for cancer patients to have bllod clots.

Mom just got admitted, put on levonx (bloodthinner) and will have a ct scan with contrast in the A.M
What is the treatment for this and what is entailed?

She has no pain just facial swelling yesterday ankle swelling and difficulty breathing still. Yea thats all...LOL
Thanks for all your help

Comments

  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #2
    Clots
    I developed blood clots in both legs after my bout with lung cancer, probably because I remained in the hospital for an extra month due to a staph infection.

    In my case, they used ultrasound to detect the clots (an attractive young lady rubbing a jelly-like substance up and down both legs...what's not to like...ahem). I then went on one week of lovenox, which required giving myself shots to the abdomen (a diabetic friend showed me how to do it so that it would not hurt: simply grab a bit of stomach, pinch it, if you will, and then quickly in and out with the needle.) The first one was rather dramatic as I am allergic to pain, but I got used to it. After that first week, I was put on coumadin (warfarin) for six months, with another ultrasound at the end to verify the all clear.

    I was advised, of course, to exercise.

    The danger comes from what they CAN do, where they CAN go. They are in the blood stream, obviously, and it is not uncommon for untreated clots to move to the lungs for example, where they can cause embolisms and even to the heart (I am not a doctor, so don't quote me on this). I know that they consider them quite serious conditions.

    Best wishes to mom and her family.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • sleepless in jersey
    sleepless in jersey Member Posts: 185
    #3
    soccerfreaks said:

    Clots
    I developed blood clots in both legs after my bout with lung cancer, probably because I remained in the hospital for an extra month due to a staph infection.

    In my case, they used ultrasound to detect the clots (an attractive young lady rubbing a jelly-like substance up and down both legs...what's not to like...ahem). I then went on one week of lovenox, which required giving myself shots to the abdomen (a diabetic friend showed me how to do it so that it would not hurt: simply grab a bit of stomach, pinch it, if you will, and then quickly in and out with the needle.) The first one was rather dramatic as I am allergic to pain, but I got used to it. After that first week, I was put on coumadin (warfarin) for six months, with another ultrasound at the end to verify the all clear.

    I was advised, of course, to exercise.

    The danger comes from what they CAN do, where they CAN go. They are in the blood stream, obviously, and it is not uncommon for untreated clots to move to the lungs for example, where they can cause embolisms and even to the heart (I am not a doctor, so don't quote me on this). I know that they consider them quite serious conditions.

    Best wishes to mom and her family.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Thanks Joe...
    That eased my mind knowing thats all that is required to desolve a clot.

    Well I dont know if they even know anymore how to take care of mom really x-ray neg for fluid well very little in lt lobe today more x-rays, echo for heart, that doppler you were liking mom had and thourouly enjoy as much as you I think ummm were neg. so just had nuclear test and if neg than ct scan tommorrow?
    On heavy doses of decadron blood thinner in belly like you with magnesium b/c thats down and poss. an atibiotic there going to give a shot as well?? Oh shouldn't forget about the nebulizer that she said is useless and insulin since the high doses of decadron.
    Chemo is Gemzar any thought b/c im ready to shre them with the pul man and the lung sureon as well really we feel like they finally fig. things out til she spent a wk in the hospital its crazy.
    Thanks again for all your help
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #4
    sleepless in jersey said:

    Thanks Joe...
    That eased my mind knowing thats all that is required to desolve a clot.

    Well I dont know if they even know anymore how to take care of mom really x-ray neg for fluid well very little in lt lobe today more x-rays, echo for heart, that doppler you were liking mom had and thourouly enjoy as much as you I think ummm were neg. so just had nuclear test and if neg than ct scan tommorrow?
    On heavy doses of decadron blood thinner in belly like you with magnesium b/c thats down and poss. an atibiotic there going to give a shot as well?? Oh shouldn't forget about the nebulizer that she said is useless and insulin since the high doses of decadron.
    Chemo is Gemzar any thought b/c im ready to shre them with the pul man and the lung sureon as well really we feel like they finally fig. things out til she spent a wk in the hospital its crazy.
    Thanks again for all your help

    Oh
    One other obvious danger, of course, sleepless: the bleeding! Being on a thinner means that you tend to bleed much easier than everyone else, which can then lead to infection and so on. Even with gloves on, my roses would get me! I wore my rad mask for halloween that year, and when the 'fake' blood started dripping, I realized the mask had nicked my ear, and I could not get it to stop (wife did...my premiums must not have been up-to-date :)). So she will want to be careful with that aspect of it: bleeding and infections.

    I never thought of decadron as a blood thinner, but rather as a steroid for use with chemotherapy to promote appetite and inhibit nausea, but we all have our experiences to share.

    Glad to hear that mom and her family are finally comfortable with the docs!

    Take care,

    Joe
  • onemore
    onemore Member Posts: 57
    #5
    Blood Clots
    Hi Sleepless in Jersey

    My dad has Mesothelioma. He formed a blood clot as well - in his lung.

    He is on injections of Levonox as well 2X's a day for the rest of his life.

    The doctor has told us as well that it is very common in cancer patients.

    Regards,

    Onemore
  • sleepless in jersey
    sleepless in jersey Member Posts: 185
    #6
    soccerfreaks said:

    Oh
    One other obvious danger, of course, sleepless: the bleeding! Being on a thinner means that you tend to bleed much easier than everyone else, which can then lead to infection and so on. Even with gloves on, my roses would get me! I wore my rad mask for halloween that year, and when the 'fake' blood started dripping, I realized the mask had nicked my ear, and I could not get it to stop (wife did...my premiums must not have been up-to-date :)). So she will want to be careful with that aspect of it: bleeding and infections.

    I never thought of decadron as a blood thinner, but rather as a steroid for use with chemotherapy to promote appetite and inhibit nausea, but we all have our experiences to share.

    Glad to hear that mom and her family are finally comfortable with the docs!

    Take care,

    Joe

    Its craziness
    Mom's suppose to come home today from the hospital and they have no answers why the difficulty breathing ruled out clots etc...did every test and neg. She qualifies for 02 her sats walking are 86. Dad's going to ask the pulmanologist today who is suppose to release her give us the straight talk is it the tumor on her lung what is it??
    She had an aniety attack last night when went to the bathroom got wided going to bed and couldn't find her 02 and feels like crap today. So were thinking that its the reduction of the steroid and the aniety of coming home where she feels safe and comfortable at the hospital?
    I did look up gemzar wondering if thats whats causing the windedness as well that is in the less common areas?
    Onc says no!
    Its just so hard she's not helping her self either no eating enough protein nor walking around either. You have been through so much, Mom hasn't even come close to what you have been through any words for me to tell Mom? Dad gave her tough love yest. I dont know how that went, will find out hopefully soon.
    Thanks again.
  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    #7
    More info and experience with blood clots
    Hi Sleepless,
    My mom had problems with blood clots,too. (I have the same cancer she had). First we noticed some discoloration in her legs and within an hour or two she had dark stripes up her legs - which turned out to be large clots.

    Her oncologist put her on lovenox and had a Greenfield filter placed in her veins between her legs and her lungs to prevent a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung). Her oncologist told us that clots are a fairly common component of the disease process. His explanation to us was that some types of cancer create a protein that causes the formation of clots.

    You mention later in this thread that your mom experienced anxiety the night you brought her home because she could not find her oxygen. Remember, she does know what is going on and was anxious already. Not being able to access her oxygen would only increase her anxiety. As my mom's o2 levels dropped, her limbs suffered from oxygen starvation, this too was painful, and pain can increase anxiety.

    It sounds as if you are sensitive to the changes she is going through, this is a sign of a good caretaker. Just remember to assert yourself with her doctors. When they say something you don't understand ask for clarification. Remember, they went to 4 yrs of college and many years of medical school to gain their knowledge. You are cannot possibly be expected to know what they know.

    Take care of you, too!
    Denise
  • sleepless in jersey
    sleepless in jersey Member Posts: 185
    #8
    dennycee said:

    More info and experience with blood clots
    Hi Sleepless,
    My mom had problems with blood clots,too. (I have the same cancer she had). First we noticed some discoloration in her legs and within an hour or two she had dark stripes up her legs - which turned out to be large clots.

    Her oncologist put her on lovenox and had a Greenfield filter placed in her veins between her legs and her lungs to prevent a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung). Her oncologist told us that clots are a fairly common component of the disease process. His explanation to us was that some types of cancer create a protein that causes the formation of clots.

    You mention later in this thread that your mom experienced anxiety the night you brought her home because she could not find her oxygen. Remember, she does know what is going on and was anxious already. Not being able to access her oxygen would only increase her anxiety. As my mom's o2 levels dropped, her limbs suffered from oxygen starvation, this too was painful, and pain can increase anxiety.

    It sounds as if you are sensitive to the changes she is going through, this is a sign of a good caretaker. Just remember to assert yourself with her doctors. When they say something you don't understand ask for clarification. Remember, they went to 4 yrs of college and many years of medical school to gain their knowledge. You are cannot possibly be expected to know what they know.

    Take care of you, too!
    Denise

    clots
    Well we found out as you now know the Doc's ruled everything out and just blames on the tumors, copd (which she has never been diagnosed with or on med for). So they just had no answers but your lungs are in bad shape were sending you home with oxygen and we got the insurance company to pay since you have to have your sats at 88 and below and moms while walking the hallway at the hospital was 86. So its sweet and sour.

    We really think these docs no crap really they aren't answer any questions until they run enough tests that take several days and still cant answer half the time.
    Thanks for all your help!

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