Cancer patients find both tablets and injections acceptable to treat blood clots.

What is it about?

In our interview study with cancer patients participating in the select-d trial (a trial of two types of treatment for blood clots, “thrombosis”) and their family carers we found that patients find both tablets (direct oral anticoagulants) and injections (Low Molecular Weight Heparins) acceptable to treat thrombosis. Despite initial worries over injections and drawbacks such as scarring and bruising around the injection site, they find the injections acceptable to treat the life-threatening blood clots. Some patients are happy to follow clinical advice over which treatment to have (injections or tablets), whilst others take the safety and effectiveness of the two types of drugs into account in their decision. An additional finding, also seen in other interview studies and a recent European survey with patients with cancer-associated thrombosis, was that although twenty percent of cancer patients develop thrombosis, most of the patients in our study did not know that they were at increased risk, nor what signs to seek medical help for and so delayed seeking life-saving treatment.

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Why is it important?

This article is important when deciding what anticoagulant medication to offer patients. It also highlights the great need there is for increased awareness of blood clots amongst cancer patients. Our recommendations are that: -clinicians take both clinical guidelines and patient preference into account when deciding what treatment to offer for cancer-associated thrombosis, without undue worry that injections may be too burdensome for patients. -all cancer patients be informed of their increased risk of thrombosis and what symptoms they should seek immediate help for.