Men suffering from prostate cancer may be more than twice as likely to suffer from potentially life-threatening blood clots according to researchers at King’s College School of Medicine, London.
The study looked at blood clot rates in 76600 Swedish men who’d been diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1997 and 2007. Out of this sample, 30642 had received hormone therapy, 26432 had undergone surgical intervention whilst the other 19562 men were under ‘active surveillance’ – in other words, their condition was being closely monitored but they were receiving no direct treatment.
The study, which is the first to examine the correlation between prostate cancer and blood clot risks, noted that there were a total of 1881 potentially life threatening blood clots reported – which is about twice the rates that would be expected from men in the general population.
At greatest risk were prostate cancer sufferers being treated with hormone therapy, with a 2.5 fold increased risk in comparison to men without the cancer. The study also noted that those men whose cancer had spread to other parts of the body were at greater odds of suffering a blood clot than men whose cancer remained localised in the prostate.
Due to the slightly increased statistical odds of those on hormone therapy suffering a life-threatening blood clot, researchers suggest that this should be taken into account by doctors when treating prostate cancer patients.
It is known that hormone therapy can increase blood clot risks. For example, women taking the contraceptive pill (which contains oestrogen) have a slightly raised risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis in the leg (DVT).
However, as Dr Helen Rippon of The Prostate Cancer Charity noted, men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer should not be unduly alarmed by the new findings. She stated that hormone therapy can control the progression of advanced prostate cancer for years in some cases and had proven clinical benefits. She also pointed to the fact that the study did not intimate in any way that those who would, or who are benefiting from hormone therapy should stop treatment.
Furthermore, all cancer sufferers are known to have an increased risk of developing blood clots, although the reasons for this remain unclear. Some speculate that the disease itself may have an intrinsic physiological effect that increases the odds, whilst others suggest that a lack of mobility in many cancer sufferers may be a factor. Those confined to bed for example, have a significantly increased risk of developing a DVT. In all likelihood however, it may well be a combination of cancer treatments, in addition to the above factors that leads to the increased risk.
Those suffering from cancer are most likely to develop a deep vein thrombosis in the leg, which can be of particular concern because these clots can travel to the lungs creating a life threatening blockage known as a pulmonary embolism.
The general consensus is that sufferers of prostate cancer should not discontinue hormone treatment, but should be aware of the warning signs. Symptoms of DVT include pain and/or swelling in the calf or thigh of one leg, as well as possible red or purple discolouration and a sensation of heat in the affected area. Those experiencing such symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Sources: The Guardian, Lancet Oncology
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