Abstract

A STUDY ON CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Jesna Sam*, Lakku Suchitra Reddy, Bijay Kumar Das, Pramod Thapa, Dr. Renu Raghupati, Mahadevamma L. and Dr. K. A. Sridhar Katta

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chemotherapeutic agents are used widely in clinical medicine for the treatment of conditions where diminution of the host immune response is a goal. Breast cancer patients are prone to develop chemotherapy induced immunosuppression, with marked decrease in WBC count as well as Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC). It points to the fact that it is inevitable to frequently monitor and evaluate the regimens and also manage any such incidents of immunosuppression by means of the standard guidelines such as, the use of growth factors, antibiotics and other supportive measures. This study takes an effort to figure out the best treatment regimen with least effects of immunosuppression and in spite of all this, if any such event occurs, the most effective management of it also studied. Objectives: To study the management of chemotherapy induced immunosuppression in breast cancer patient. Methodology: This was a Prospective and Observational study carried out for a period of 6 months at Apollo Multi-Speciality Hospital and Imperial Cancer Research Centre, Bangalore. All patients with breast cancer admitted to the Oncology department during the study period were screened to meet the study criteria. Selection of patients was based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Result: Out of the 152 patients enrolled in the study, 46% of the patients were of age group 55-75 years, 49% of them suffered from right breast cancer and 47% from left breast cancer. The most prescribed drug regimen was TCH regimen and the most effective regimen was AC regimen. The most effective management for chemotherapy induced immunosuppression was found to be Pegfilgrastim, the efficient supportive therapy seen from the study was Dexamethasone. Apart from this, the study pointed out that the occurrence of breast cancer was more in obese patients (63.2%). Conclusion: Once a rare disease, cancer is spreading fast in the modern world. The treatment opportunities are also tremendous, yet the side effects of chemotherapy can’t be ruled out completely and immunosuppression being the most prominent one should be given utmost importance. Health care professionals should be made aware of threats due to chemotherapy induced immunosuppression in breast cancer patients, so that the patient gets the best possible medical care and thus fight against this deadly disease. There is a ‘can’ in ‘cancer’ because we can beat it!q

Keywords: Breast cancer, Immunosuppression, chemotherapy.