Abstract:
People with primary invasive breast cancer receive both local (surgery and radiation
therapy) and systemic treatment (chemotherapy and hormonal therapy). However, there are
substantial short-and long-term side effects from chemotherapy as documented in several studies.
This study assessed the effects of chemotherapy on clinical, haematological and biochemical
profile of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.
Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted in the female surgical ward of the Cape Coast
Teaching Hospital (CCTH). We randomly sampled 51 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and
scheduled to start chemotherapy and recorded their demographic, clinical and therapeutic data.
Blood was collected for haematological profiles [haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell
(WBC) count, platelets (PLT) and biochemical analysis (lipid profile, uric acid and creatinine) for
day 1, day 21 and day 42 of their chemotherapy cycles.
Results: Majority of the participants were within 46-60 years, married, overweight and had informal
employment. Throughout chemotherapy cycles, systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly
decreased till after the third cycle (P=0.026), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) significantly decreased
after second cycle but increased slightly after the third cycle (P=0.029). Hemoglobin though
insignificant, decreased after the second cycle but increased sharply after the third cycle
(P=0.281). White blood cells (WBC) significantly decreased throughout cycles (P=0.008) whereas
high density lipoprotein (P=0.014) increased throughout cycles- Uric acid (P=0.852) and creatinine
(P=1.000). were maintained throughout cycles
Conclusion: Throughout cycles, chemotherapy had significant adverse effect on the clinical profile
(systolic and diastolic blood pressure), white blood cells (WBC) and high density lipoprotein (HDL)
in patients undergoing treatment.
