Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul 7:9:a26359296.
doi: 10.1055/a-2635-9296. eCollection 2025.

Patient's Awareness of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A Canadian Nationwide Survey

Ana C Pizzarossa  1   2 , Andrea Penaloza  2   3 , Kristina Vrotniakaite-Bajerciene  2   4 , Rufaro Chitsike  5 , Vicky Tagalakis  6 , Susan Calverley  7 , Marc Carrier  2
Affiliations

Patient's Awareness of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A Canadian Nationwide Survey

Ana C Pizzarossa et al. TH Open. .

Abstract

Background: Approximately 20% of patients with cancer will have cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite its clinical importance, CAT awareness in cancer patients and caregivers remains low. We sought to assess the patients' knowledge of CAT through a national survey.

Materials and methods: A survey assessing knowledge of different aspects of CAT was developed by a steering committee including four clinicians with expertise in CAT and a patient partner with lived experience. Survey dissemination among patients with cancer occurred through the Environics network, the Thrombosis Canada member network, the Thrombosis Canada social media platforms, and was advertised through Instagram and Facebook, and the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network newsletter.

Results: Out of the 312 patients with cancer or survivors who responded to the survey, 179 (57.4%) were female, and 118 (37.8%) were over 65 years old. Overall, 119 patients (38.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 37.7-49.8%) reported having no knowledge of CAT. Only 84 (26.9%, 95% CI: 22.1-32.2%) and 94 (30.1%, 95% CI: 25.1-35.6%) patients reported receiving education about their underlying risk of CAT or education about signs and symptoms of venous thromboembolism, respectively. A total of 66 (21%, 95% CI: 16.8-26.1%) patients reported being informed by a health care professional about considering thromboprophylaxis. Patients were interested in learning more about the risk of CAT, its associated risk factors, and the benefits and potential side effects of thromboprophylaxis.

Conclusion: Many patients with cancer lack awareness or knowledge of CAT. Our results highlight ongoing education and awareness of the CAT burden.

Keywords: anticoagulants; neoplasias; pulmonary embolism; venous thromboembolism; venous thrombosis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest M.C. reports grants from Pfizer, personal fees from BMS, Leo Pharma, Bayer, Pfizer, Anthos, Regeneron, and Sanofi. The other authors do not have any conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Familiarity with terms related to venous and arterial thrombosis. Respondents had to choose a number between 1 to 7 according to their familiarity with the terms proposed. Scale was 1 = no knowledge to 7 = very knowledgeable. Summary chart legend is green (very knowledgeable) = top two (6 and 7); red (somewhat) = middle three (3–5); blue (very little/no knowledge) = bottom two (1 and 2). CRT, catheter-related thrombosis; DVT, deep vein thrombosis; MI, myocardial infarction; PE, pulmonary embolism; SVT, superficial vein thrombosis; TIA, transient ischemic attack; VTE, venous thromboembolism.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
When you think of blood clots, which of the following do you think of? Respondents had to choose which terms they associated with blood clots.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Awareness of cancer associated thrombosis. Respondents had to choose a number between 1 to 7 according to their familiarity with the terms proposed. Scale was 1 = no knowledge to 7 = very knowledgeable. Summary chart legend is: Blue (Very knowledgeable) = Top 2 (6 and 7); Red (Somewhat) = Middle 3 (3,4,5); Green (Very Little/no knowledge) = Bottom 2 (1,2).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Lutsey P L, Zakai N A. Epidemiology and prevention of venous thromboembolism. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2023;20(04):248–262. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Trujillo-Santos J, Martos F M, Font C et al. Analysis of clinical factors affecting the rates of fatal pulmonary embolism and bleeding in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism. Heliyon. 2017;3(01):e00229. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chew H K, Davies A M, Wun T, Harvey D, Zhou H, White R H. The incidence of venous thromboembolism among patients with primary lung cancer. J Thromb Haemost. 2008;6(04):601–608. - PubMed
    1. Key N S, Khorana A A, Kuderer N M et al. Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and treatment in patients with cancer: ASCO clinical practice guideline update. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(05):496–520. - PubMed
    1. Khorana A A, Francis C W, Culakova E, Kuderer N M, Lyman G H. Thromboembolism is a leading cause of death in cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5(03):632–634. - PubMed