press release: Survey Reveals a Majority of Cancer Patients, Survivors Are Unaware of Higher Risk for Developing Deep-Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism

Survey Reveals a Majority of Cancer Patients, Survivors Are Unaware of Higher Risk for Developing Deep-Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism

NEW YORK, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Focusing attention on patient groups at high risk for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), the Coalition to Prevent DVT has found that a majority of people with cancer were not aware of an increased risk for DVT and its potentially fatal complication, pulmonary embolism (PE). Additionally, few had discussed their risk with their healthcare provider, according to a survey released by the Coalition as part of the ninth annual DVT Awareness Month.
Up to 2 million Americans are affected by DVT annually, and complications from DVT/PE kill up to 300,000 people in the U.S. each year – more than AIDS and breast cancer combined.^1,2 Up to 20 percent of all cases of DVT and PE occur in cancer patients,³ and DVT/PE are the second leading cause of death among cancer patients.⁴
“Almost anyone fighting cancer is at heightened risk for developing a DVT,” said Coalition steering committee member Craig Kessler, M.D., professor of medicine and pathology, Georgetown University Medical Center.........