Blood clots

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potentially serious condition where blood clots form in the veins, usually in the legs. Cancer causes changes in the blood that can increase the likelihood of forming clots. Blood clots may go unnoticed and cause no symptoms. However, they are often associated with swelling, pain and tenderness in the affected area. Swelling in one leg only is often a sign of DVT. A fragment of the clot may break loose and travel to the lungs, causing damage to the lung tissue from the sudden decrease in blood supply. This is called a pulmonary embolism and is a serious condition. DVT is commonly treated with drugs called anticoagulants that thin the blood and prevent existing clots from getting larger and new clots from forming.