Hematological toxicity assessment in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel: Retrospective study and single center experience

Hematological toxicity is a predominant concern encountered during cancer treatment. Regular blood tests and follow-up are crucial for cancer patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the hematological toxicities seen by breast cancer patients who were administered paclitaxel during treatment cycles. An observational retrospective study was conducted at the Oncology Clinic at Hiwa Hospital in The Kurdistan Region of Iraq between January 2021 and May 2022. Among the 141 breast cancer patients included in the study, 74 patients did not receive granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prior to the baseline, while 67 patients did receive it. A significant statistical difference was observed in the White Blood Cells parameter among cancer patients who did not receive granulocyte-colony stimulating factor before the baseline when comparing the 2(nd) cycle to the 3(rd) cycle of Paclitaxel treatment (P-value = 0.001). Statistically significant differences were seen between the Baseline and 1(st) Cycle, Baseline and 2(nd) Cycle and Baseline and 3(rd) Cycle (P-value = 0.0312, 0.031 and 0.031, respectively) in grade 1 neutropenia among the 67 patients who received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prior to the baseline. This study determined that anemia is a frequently observed hematological side effect of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients who are undergoing treatment with paclitaxel, followed by grade 1 neutropenia.