Any docs who know about these things around...? DVT and cancer connection?

[OlderNotWiser]

My mum has just been admitted to hospital with a blood clot on the lung and the docs are fairly sure it was from a DVT in her leg. The prognosis from that is not yet clear unfortunately. But they have also brought up the fact that she had breast cancer 12 years ago...it wasn't a big lump, hadn't gone to the lymph nodes, and she was treated sucessfully as far as we knew. It wasn't considered a particularly aggressive form. She recently had a mammogram that was clear too. So what is the interest or concern about cancer now in relation to her ex-cancer...? She has to have a scan to check her over for it and I don't get why. Does anyone know? Its driving me mad waiting (and her too, more to the point)and I am hundreds of miles away with 2 small children so can't even see her until the weekend.

the plain truth is DVTs and PEs (blood clots on lungs) are sometimes caused by cancer. either by cancers in the tummy blocking or pushing on the big veins in the tummy that drain the leg veins or by the fact that sometimes cancer makes the blood more sticky, so more likely to clot.

so the scan will be to check her abdominal cavity (ovaries, kidneys, liver, lymph nodes etc).

And unfortunatly some cancers look like they've gone, then they reappear years later in other sites (ie liver).

Of course DVTs can occur for other reasons than cancer or no reason at all. but it's good practice, esp with your mum's past history to be thorough and look for a cause.

I'm being honest rather than tactful. Good luck.

Thanks cass66...better to know these things and be prepared so appreciate the honest answer. Stepmum is still waiting for a scan, having had it delayed 3 times now...but I do at least know what we may be up against now.