Overview of Bleeding in Cancer Patients

Low platelet count may be the consequence of marrow invasion, chemotherapy or platelet autoantibodies. Significant replacement of the marrow by tumor cells occurs only in very advanced cancer. Autoimmune thrombocytopenia is most commonly seen in association with lymphoid malignancies, more seldom with lung, breast and testicular cancer. Moderately severe thrombocytopenia is frequent after chemotherapy of solid tumors. The bleeding risk associated with thrombocytopenia is not great in itself, but is enhanced by such factors as concurrent infection, mucosal damage, prior radiotherapy and short time intervals between chemotherapy courses.