Occult cancer rarely causes outside the blue blood clots

Blood clots can be life when formed blood circulation to stop bleeding from a wound. However, they can cause havoc when formed into the bloodstream. A blood clot in a coronary artery can cause a heart attack. A in the brain can cause a stroke.

Blood clots that form in a vein in the leg causing a problem known as venous thromboembolism or VTE. If the clot remains of the leg, which can cause swelling and pain. If it breaks off and travels to the lungs, it can cause a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism.

In about half of those who develop a VTE, doctors can identify what caused it. Common causes include injuries; operation; pregnancy; taking hormones such as testosterone or estrogen; an increased risk of bleeding due to a genetic disease or other diseases; or slowed blood flow caused by prolonged bed rest, with a cast, or sitting for long. In the other half, VTE is something of a mystery. These are called "unprovoked VTE."

The cancer may be the blood clot more easily. That's why doctors often fear occult cancer, undiagnosed behind idiopathic VTE and extensive testing of commands CT scans to look for anything suspicious. The results of a study published online last week in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) suggesting that these searches are often fruitless - and costly. 

Less can be more
 For the NEJM study, Canadian researchers randomly assigned 854 patients with idiopathic VTE one of two groups.

Half had the usual tests for people with idiopathic VTE. These included:

  *  a complete history and physical examination
  *  Routine blood tests
  *  A chest radiograph
  *  detection of cancer by sex and age appropriate.

The other half was subjected to extensive testing to detect hidden cancer. This includes all the most improved 'standard' tests CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis. Not only are these expensive tests that expose people to radiation - and this exhibition almost always turns out to be useless.

Only 4% of the 854 study participants were diagnosed with a new cancer within 12 months after the clot appeared. And it has not just a chance of losing a cancer hidden with standard tests, rather than extensive testing 1%.

VTE caused can not be scary, especially for people who have heard about the possible links between VTE and cancer. These results provide greater assurance that the risk of a hidden cancer is very low. And in addition to hunting for an image that exposure to radiation and costs without added health benefit.

 VTE prevention
 Some VTE clearly comes "out of nothing". Others may be preventable. Here are some things you can do to prevent both induced and idiopathic VTE:

   *  Stay active.
   *  Leave your desk, sofa or chair and take short walks as often as possible.
   *  When you sit, move your feet and often comes down to tighten the calf muscles. This is especially important when you sit for long periods, such as during an intercontinental flight or a long bus, train, or car.
   *  Get your weight within the healthy range and keep it there.
   *  No Smoking.
   *  Drink lots of water, especially when traveling long distances.
   *  If you are admitted to the hospital or surgery, ask your doctor about preventive treatment with anticoagulants or legs "compressors".
   *  If you are at higher than average risk of having a VTE, talk to your doctor if you should take low-dose aspirin every day.