healmymom
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I have read how cancer increases the chance of blood clots, which have the possibility then of moving to the lungs, but due to the possible side effects of anti-coagulants, most oncologists don't prescribe anti-coagulant medicine for their patients.
Does chemo/radiation increase the change of clotting? Is it safe to take a 325 mg. aspirin daily to prevent clotting or what does is considered safe?
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Reply # - September 8, 2015, 06:22 AM
Hi healmymom,
Hi healmymom,
Dr. Weiss wrote an extensive discussion of blood clots in lung cancer here. As he stated:
"It makes great sense to try low doses of blood thinners in lung cancer patients who have never had a clot and it is has been tried. So far, there’s no great evidence that this is the right thing to do. So, as a patient, I recommend keeping mobile, keeping hydrated, and watching out for leg swelling. And, as I was pretty frank about above, I believe that the best prevention against a new clot in a patient who has already had one is lifelong, full-dose anticoagulation, ideally with lovenox or a similar agent."
I don't know how effective a daily aspirin would be to prevent clots: many doctors have moved away from recommending it, and in a patient receiving chemo I would be concerned about it exacerbating the gastrointestinal side effects of chemo.
JimC
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