Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I'm currently undergoing cancer treatment and would like to know if I need to be worried about DVT while taking chemotherapy.
Answer: Patients with cancer are certainly at higher risk of DVT because cancer cells produce proteins that increase clotting. You should definitely receive DVT-prevention measures (mainly blood thinner injections and/or compression devices) while you are in the hospital. If you are at home and walk several times a day at least, most physicians would not take special measures to prevent DVT. Talk to your oncologist about your risk of DVT during your treatment.

Question: I am a 52–year-old male with varicose veins all over my legs and discolored skin on my shins and ankles. Injuries to my shins take a very long time to heal, sometimes many weeks. Could I have PAD?
Answer: Yes, it is possible that you have PAD, but the skin can also be slow to heal with venous stasis (what you describe). You need to see a vascular specialist and talk to him/her about your concerns. The specialist may want to do tests for PAD if he/she does not feel pulses or if the pulses are weak. A specialist will also need to know if you have diabetes.

Question: I think that I may have Raynaud's Syndrome. Will this go away on its own or will I have this for life? I am 45 and I have had this now for about five years.
Answer: It probably will not go away. You need to protect your hands and feet (use mittens, not gloves) and tell your doctor. Sometimes Raynaud's Syndrome is a symptom of other problems. You might need to see a rheumatologist.

Question: Is Pletal® better than Plavix®? From everything I read it appears that both are platelet inhibitors. Do you know of any reason why one is preferred over the other? I have been taking Pletal® since it first became available and have had no side effects.
Answer: Pletal® and Plavix® work differently and are given to patients for different reasons. Pletal® or cilostazol is used for claudication to reduce leg pain, while Plavix® or clopidogrel is an anti-platelet medication that keeps platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming blood clots. While Pletal® does have some platelet-blocking properties, it is generally not used alone as an anti-platelet medication. They are not interchangeable.