Blood Loss

Blood loss can happen during any surgical procedure. Patients with cancer or a history of cancer treatment have a greater risk of significant blood loss during surgery. This may be because of the location of the cancer or if there are changes to the way your blood clots. Some cancers can affect the organs that help with clotting, making it so blood does not clot like it should.

Excessive bleeding is the loss of more than 20% of the total blood volume. This can cause the body to go into shock, which can be a fatal (deadly) condition. Blood transfusion (donated blood is given to you through an intravenous line) is needed in these cases.

Management

Your surgeon will choose the least invasive procedure to reduce the risk of blood loss. They may instruct you on activities to do or not do before and after the surgery. These activities commonly include avoiding aspirin (ASA) or anti-coagulant (blood-thinning) medications before and after surgery. You may also be prescribed medications to treat anemia or a low platelet count.

When to contact your care team

You should talk to your surgeon about any questions you have. After surgery, your surgeon will tell you how to monitor for bleeding and when to call the hospital or surgeon.