Effects of Chemotherapy on the Haematological Profile of Cervical Cancer Patients in Douala General and Laquintinie Hospitals

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer and third leading cause of death from cancer among females in developing countries including Cameroon. Chemotherapy is a widely used treatment modality for this cancer, aimed at destroying cancerous cells and preventing their further growth and spread. However, this also destroys healthy blood cells precursors in the bone marrow. Hence evaluating the effects of chemotherapy on haematological parameters in cervical cancer patients is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and managing potential complications.

Methods: This study was a hospital based prospective study carried out in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. The study participants consisted of 92 diagnosed cervical cancer patients scheduled to undergo chemotherapy who were followed up carefully for a month while receiving their chemotherapeutic treatment. Data were collected through laboratory analysis, medical record review and patient interviews. The R-software was used to analyze data and student’s t-test was used to compare group means before and during chemotherapeutic treatments. The Person’s Chi-square test was used to compare frequencies of haematological disorders before and following one month of chemotherapeutic treatments at 95% confidence interval. A p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 92 cervical cancer patients were recruited in the study, with an average age of 56.0±9.1 years. Majority of the patients had no history of cigarette smoking or alcohol consumption. Prior to receiving chemotherapetic treatment, 17.4% of the participants had leukocytosis, 76% had erythropenia, and only 8.7% had thrombocytosis. After one month of receiving chemotherapeutic treatment, 34.8% of the participants experienced leukopenia, 78.3% had erythropenia and 13% thrombopenia. Anaemia was the most prevalent hematological disorder observed before and during treatment (70% and 83% respectively). There were significant differences in the mean hematological disorders before and during chemotherapy (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Cervical cancer and its chemotherapeutic treatment cause abnormal changes on blood parameters, hence there is need for cautious and adjusted follow-up of Cameroonian cervical cancer patients through surrogate markers such as blood parameters in order to optimize treatment.