Hematological Toxicity during Breast Cancer Chemotherapy in Pointe-Noire (Congo Brazzaville)

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of hem atological toxicity during breast cancer chemotherapy. Patients and Meth ods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that took place in the canc erology and internal medicine department during the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, i.e. a period of 1 year. Were included in our study: patients with and histological diagnosis, and having received at least two cycles of chemotherapy and having presented hematological toxicity: anemia and/or neutropenia. The variables studied were: Age, level of study, s ocioeconomic level, stage of extension, type of chemotherapy, type of toxic ity: neutropenia and anemia. Bivariate analysis was done between anemia, neutropenia and type of chemotherapy. Results: The average age of the patients was 50.35 ± 13.6 years. The extremes were 27 years and 79 years old. The most represented age group was the age group from 37 to 46 years with 18 cases or 33.33%. The most represented level study in our study was the primary level 63%, followed by secondary level 26% and the upper or superior level 11%. Metastatic stage of location was represented in 16.6% of cases, the local stage was represented in 16.7% of cases. The most common chemothera py used was FAC protocol in 50% of cases, followed by FAC + DO CETAXEL in 47% of cases, AC protocol was used in 3% of cases. The most represented grade of neutropenia was grade 3 in 53% of cases, followed by grade 2 in 27% of cases and grade 1 in 20%. Grade 1 anemia was the most represented in 70% of cases, followed respectively by grade 2 in 27%. The majority of patients had received more than 3 courses of chemotherapy in 83% of cases. Grade 3 neutropenia was observed mostly in the advanced stages, 15 cases at the locoregional stage. Grade 1 anemia was most common in patients who receive d more than 3 courses of chemotherapy. The FAC chemotherapy protocol was responsible for more grade 3 anemia in 14 cases. FAC-type chemotherapy was associated with grade 3 and 2 neutropenia in 8 cases and 4 cases, but the results were not significant. FAC + DOCEAXEL type chemotherapy was also responsible for grade 3 and 2 neutropenia in 8 cases and 4 cases P > 5 % respectively. Conclusion: Hematological toxicity in the context of our limited resources is dominated by anemia and neutropenia. The knowledge of this hematological toxicity is necessary for the limitation of the delay of chemotherapy.