Newly diagnosed patients with cancer at increased risk for stroke

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a new study published in the journal Annals of Neurology, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, New York, have found that newly diagnosed patients with cancer, particularly those with more aggressive disease, are at an increased risk for stroke in the months following diagnosis. 

For the study, researchers analzyed Medicare claims from 2001 to 2009 by patients who had been diagnosed with colorectal, prostate, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancer. Results showed that compared to seniors without cancer, those with cancer had a much risk for stroke, especially during the first 3 months following cancer diagnosis.

Patients with colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancer had the highest risk of stroke, as those diseases are often more aggressive at the time of diagnosis. Those with breast and prostate cancer had the lowest risk for stroke as those diseases are typically diagnosed as localized tumors.

Although the study was not designed to determine why patients with cancer have an increased risk for stroke, the researchers suggest that cancer and the treatments for cancer affect the circulatory and coagulation systems. The researchers note that patients should be advised of the signs and symptoms of stroke as it can delay cancer treatment and cause disability and death.