Info
Superior vena cava syndrome
Side effects
What it means
A complication in which a tumor (often lung cancer or lymphoma) compresses the superior vena cava, partially blocking the return of blood from the head, neck and arms to the heart. It causes swelling of the face and neck and requires urgent treatment.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Lung cancer
- The most common cancer in men and the leading cause of cancer death in Romania. There are two main forms: small cell (SCLC) and non-small cell (NSCLC). Smoking is the main risk factor.
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- A common side effect of chemotherapy, which also affects the hair on your scalp. Hair loss is usually temporary, and your hair grows back after treatment, sometimes with a slightly different texture or color.
- Anaemia
- A fall in the number of red blood cells or in haemoglobin, which leads to tiredness, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath. In cancer care, it can be caused by the disease itself or by treatments.
Other terms in “Side effects”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.