Abstract:

Background: Breast cancer is one the commonest malignancy in the world and second leading cause of incidence and mortality in women in Tanzania. Together with other management approaches like radiation and surgery (mastectomy), chemotherapy is widely used and it is associated with haemotological complications (anaemia, Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia) due to its mylelosuppressive and cytotoxic effects.

Methods: A retrospective cross sectional hospital study was done in oncology department, Bugando medical centre Mwanza, Tanzania from January 2013 to December 2018. The study included 130 patients’ files which were selected using consecutive sampling. The data collected was recorded in the study tool then filled and analysed by SPSS version 20.

Results and discussion: Mean age of participants was 50.59 years with standard deviation of 12.291. Most of patients were females 94% (n=122). Most of patients 51.5% (n=67) did not develop anaemia during their chemotherapy treatment, 26.9% (n=35) patients had mild anemia, 19.2% (n=25) patients had moderate anemia and 2.4% (n=3, severe anemia was managed by using iron supplements like Fefo and delay of chemotherapy treatment. 35.3% (n=44) patients did not develop neutropenia, 26.2% (n=34), 36 (27.7%), and 10.8% (n=14) patients had mild, moderate and severe neutropenia. Neutropenia was managed by filgrastrim, dose delay and the use of antibiotics like amoxclav as prophylaxis for infections. 80.8% (n=105) did not develop thrombocytopenia 7.7% (n=10), 5.4% (n=7), 3.8% (n=5) and 2.3% (n=3) patients developed grade one, grade two, grade three and grade four thrombocytopenia respectively. Grades three and four thrombocytopenia was managed.

Conclusion: According to this study most of breast cancer patients develop haemotological complications. Therefore Bugando medical centre oncology department should consider the use of filgrastrim and iron supplements as prophylaxis for neutropenia and anaemia. With severe anaemia they should consider blood transfusion so as chemotherapy is not delayed. Also, platelet transfusion and the use of thrombopoietin agents should be conducted in thrombocytopenia.