Medical Information
Factors that increase the risk of developing DVT include major surgery; immobility, such as being in the hospital and long travel; and certain chronic medical illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer.
Are You At Risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis (also called DVT or blood clots) occurs when a blood clot forms in a large vein. Part of a clot may break off and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism and, possibly, death. Everyone should know the risk factors, symptoms, and steps they can take to protect themselves.
Beware of Online Cancer Fraud
While health fraud is a cruel form of greed, fraud involving cancer treatments can be particularly heartless – especially because fraudulent information can travel around the Web in an instant. “Anyone who suffers from cancer, or knows someone who does, understands the fear and desperation that can set in,” says Gary Coody, RPh., the national health fraud coordinator and a consumer safety officer with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Regulatory Affairs. “There can be a great temptation to jump at anything that appears to offer a chance for a cure.”
Reducing Your Risk of Lymphedema After Cancer Treatment
by Jeannette Zucker, DPT, CLT-LANA, CSCS, WCC
Lymphedema occurs when a person has a compromised lymphatic system, such as when lymph nodes are removed during surgery for cancer. Because lymphedema isn’t a largely publicized side effect, there are many misconceptions regarding the condition.
Browse all Medical Information topics
