Abstract

PATTERNS OF BREAST CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY USE AND ADHERENCE TO TREATMENT IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Ekundayo Omowunmi Oluwakemi and Usifoh Stella Folajole*

Abstract

The study determined the patterns of chemotherapy use, treatment adherence, and the association between demographics and adherence to chemotherapy. A retrospective study of patients in the Surgical Oncology Division, University College Hospital, Ibadan was conducted after ethical approval with the number UI/UCH/EC/18/0580. Female patients with not < 3 months‟ history of breast cancer management were included and patients with cognitive impairment and psychiatric disorders were excluded. The data collected were demographics, histology, immunohistochemistry status, chemotherapeutic agent, other therapies, adherence to therapy, and appointments. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 for descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test for inferential analysis. There were hundred patients with a mean of 52.75±12.63 years, most 88(88.0%) were employed and 2(2.0%) had a family history of cancer or breast cancer. About 66 (66.0%) presented with lump and swelling, 17(17.0%) were recurrent breast swelling cases. Many 42(42.0%) were in stage IIIB, 18(18.0%) were in stage 0, while Stage IIA and Stage IIIA were 9(9.0%), and 5(5.0%) were in Stage IV. Also, 54 (54.0%) had an adjuvant, 44(44.0%) neo-adjuvant and 2(2.0%) had both mode of treatment, 55(55.0%) had combination of Cyclophosphamide and epiribicin while 9(9.0%) had combination of Cyclophosphamide, epiribicin & ondasetrim. About 57% were adherent, 16% non-adherent, and 27 % systemic non-adherent to chemotherapy. There was no significant association between types of chemotherapy treatment and the patient‟s age (P-value= 0.736), stages of breast cancer (P-value = 0.736), level of adherence was not significantly associated with patient‟s age (P-value = 0.159), treatment modality (P-value = 0.197) and the stages of breast cancer (P-value = 0.334). Many of the patients were in stage III at presentation, they were mostly placed on combination chemotherapy. There was no significant association between types of chemotherapy treatment or level of adherence and the age of the patient as well as stages of breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer, chemotherapy, adherence, non-adherence, adjuvant, neoadjuvant.