P-52 Examining Pre and Post Chemotherapy Effects on Haemoglobin Level and Platelet Count in Breast Cancer Patients: A Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Oncology Clinic Study (Jan 2020 - Dec 2023)
Author(s):
A Narain , K Williams , P Cheddie , A Anderson, L Gooding
Year of Presentation:
2025
Objective: Chemotherapy is an essential treatment for
breast cancer, but it often results in significant haematological side effects, such as changes in haemoglobin levels and
platelet counts. This study aims to evaluate the effects of
chemotherapy on haemoglobin level and platelet count in
breast cancer patients.
Methods: This research was conducted using a quantitative approach with a pretest posttest design. The study was retrospective and it was conducted at the Oncology Clinic, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Guyana, from January 2020 to December 2023. It entailed 220 breast cancer cases. Mean Hb levels and Plt counts pre and post chemotherapy were analysed through Paired Samples t tests, while linear regression was used to analyse the post chemotherapy values against predictors such as stage of cancer and treatment regimen, gender and ethnicity.
Results: The mean age for breast cancer patients was 52.51 ± 9.0. The most prevalent breast cancer was that of invasive ductal carcinoma (93.2%). Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (78.6%) comprised the primary treatment regimen for the breast cancer patients. Statistically significant differences at a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were found in both haemoglobin levels and platelet counts before and after chemotherapy. The mean difference in haemoglobin levels and platelet counts were 0.71 g/dl and 32.39 x 10^9/L respectively.
Conclusion: Chemotherapy significantly affects haemoglobin level and platelet count in breast cancer patients.