Nuclear Medicine & Radiation Therapy

Objectives: Anemia is a common complication of myelo-suppressive chemotherapy. Severe anemia is treated with red blood cell transfusion. Mild-to-moderate anemia are managed conservatively. There is no established benchmark for hemoglobin of patients to guide a global best practice and enhance treatment outcome. This study examines the change in Hb levels of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy measuring Hb after treatment.

Methods: About 100 voluntary patients with solid malignancies were recruited within 8 months. Baseline demographic characteristics and tumours types were documented. Pre-treatment Hb level was measured on the first day of consultation and repeated every 2 weeks during and after the therapy until after three consecutive Hb readings.

Results: Breast 68% (68) was the commonest site of tumor. Prevalence of anemia was 72% and most patients had their Hb within the range of 9.60 to 10.62 g/dl after treatment. At P-value >0.05 and SD there was no statistical significance on distribution of mean hemoglobin values, were independent of sex and type of treatment.

Conclusion: Chemotherapy has no effect on Hb level between 11 to 12 g/dl. Prevalence of anemia in the cohort of patients was 72%. We recommend a benchmark minimum of Hb of 11 g/dl for patients.