Hematologic and Thromboembolic Complications of Cancer and Its Treatment

Hematologic and thromboembolic complications of cancer and its treatments are common. This chapter discusses the etiology and management of each of the hematologic and thromboembolic complications of cancer. Anemia, erythrocytosis, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytosis, and thrombocytopenia are frequently seen in cancer patients. Chemotherapy remains the major treatment modality, and due to its myelosuppressive properties, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia are common and should be expected. All chemotherapy-treated patients are at risk for neutropenic complications. The degree and the duration of neutropenia also increase the risk of infection. In cancer populations, anemia can be due to bone marrow underproduction, such as chronic disease, myelophthisis, renal failure, endocrine dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and myelosuppressive therapy; blood loss anemia, such as acute blood loss, chronic blood loss, and chronic occult blood loss; and hemolysis, such as immune and nonimmune hemolytic anemia.