Symptom: Blood clots

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a potentially serious condition where blood clots form in the veins, usually in the legs.  Cancer causes changes in the blood that can increase the likelihood of forming clots.  Clots may go unnoticed and cause no symptoms, but often they are associated with swelling, pain and tenderness in the affected area.  Swelling in one leg only is often a sign of DVT.  A fragment of the clot may potentially break loose and travel to the lungs, causing damage to the lung tissue from the sudden decrease in blood supply.  This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE) and is a serious condition.  DVT is commonly treated by administering drugs called anticoagulants that thin the blood and prevent clots from getting larger and new clots from forming.