Anemia caused by bleeding from advanced breast cancer

*Konrad Wroński¹, Janusz Kaczor¹, Zbigniew Masłowski¹, Leszek Frąckowiak²

Summary
Introduction. According to the National Cancer Registry in Poland, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Poland. In the recent years, the number of new cases reached more than 16,000 cases per year. Breast cancer in Poland is the second cause of deaths from neoplastic disease among women (after lung cancer).
Anemia is defined as a hemoglobin level below the low end of the normal range, which is 12 g/dl for women and 14 g/dl in men. The etiopathogenesis of anemia is multifactorial. Bleeding occurs in approximately 6 to 10% of patients with an advanced cancer. Massive blood loss may cause immediate death, therefore, it is important to identify patients who are at risk and use preventive tools before a crisis occurs.
Aim. The aim of this study was to analyze the symptoms in women with advanced breast carcinoma who additionally suffer from anemia and to determine the most successful methods of treatment.
Material and methods. This study involved a group of 10 women with advanced breast carcinoma hospitalized in the Department of Surgical Oncology of the Hospital Ministry of Internal Affairs with Warmia and Mazury Oncology Centre in Olsztyn in the years 2012-2015. During the diagnostics process, the following tests were performed: chest X-ray, mammography, ultrasonography (US) of the abdomen and pelvis, US of the axillar lymph nodes. All of the patients had stage IV breast cancer (including cT4) and had third or fourth degree of anemia according to the WHO (World Health Organization) and NCI (National Cancer Institute) classification (hemoglobin level lower than 7.9 g/dl).
Results. After analyzing the cases, the following symptoms were found in all of the patients: exhaustion, weakness, fatigue, pain, depression, decreased exercise tolerance, headaches and dizziness. The age of the patients ranged from 52 to 68 years of age.
Conclusions. Patients with advanced breast carcinoma complicated with bleeding should be treated in high-specialized oncological centers, where different therapies can be performed immediately.

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