UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective:Anemia is common in patients with cancer and is a frequent complication of myelosuppressive chemotherapy. In this study we investigated the incidence and severity of anemia cancer patients and chemotherapy-induced anemia by the most common chemotherapy regimens

Methods: Medical charts of 88 cancer patients ( Breast , Head & Neck and malignant lymphoma) woh registered and recieved chemotherapy at oncology centre of Al-Gamhoria Teaching Hospital during the period from January 2004 to December 2004 were reviewed. Prechemotherapy anemia was defined as a baseline hemoglobin value <11.5 g/dl. An anemia event during chemotherapy was defined as either a drop in hemoglobin level below the threshold or =10 g/dl.

Results:1. 65 % of patients experienced moderate to severe anemia and 40 % were anemic prechemotherapy 2. 40% of the patients received blood transfusion 3. EPO treatment experienced good results in cancer patients 4. Blood transfusion and EPO improve quality of life