THE EFFECT OF CHEMOTHERAPY ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER

This study is a case control hospital base study conducted from July 2012 to April 2013 to assess the effect of chemotherapy doses on nutritional status of 276 female who diagnosed with breast cancer attending Radiation and Isotopes Center Khartoum (RICK) has been selected randomly to participate in this study. The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of chemotherapy on nutritional status of breast cancer patients. Data collected by using questionnaire and 24-hour food recall were filed through interviews with respondents. The collected data were analyzed using computerized methods of analysis (SPSS and Nutri-sarvey). The results revealed that, among case group the majority of women ages above 50 and more, and most of them lived in Khartoum state compared with control group, the majority of women is ages are between 30–40 and 40-50years old and most of them live in Khartoum state as the cases group,. BMI among control group compared with BMI of women received chemotherapy (case group), as follows: about 43.5% Vs 54.3%of women had normal body weight (BMI = 18.5–24.9 kg/m2). 27.9%vs 23.2% were overweight (BMI= 25–29.9 kg/m2) and 14.9% vs 6.9% were obese class I (30–34.9kg/m2), 3.3% vs 15.6% were under weight (BMI=<18.5 kg/m2), only 7.3% of control group were obese class II (35–39.9 kg/m2). 24 hours recall demonstrated that energy intake among respondents cases compared with respondents control were lower than the recommended daily allowances (RDA). The intake of fat and cholesterol were lower than the recommended daily allowances (RDA) among both (case and control group) while fiber intake among control group was more than recommended daily allowances compared with lower intake of respondent cases. The intake of Carbohydrates and protein among cases and control group in the present study were more than the RDA and at the same time the intake of fiber among cases was lower than the RDA compared with control group which was more than RDA. The intake of vitamins (A, E, C) zinc and folic acid among women both of case and control group in the present study was less than RDA.The intake of mineral (Sodium, calcium and magnesium) among both cases and control group was less than RDA. Also the intake of potassium was less than RDAamong cases compared with control group which their intake was more than RDA, while the phosphorus intake and iron intake was more than RDA among both case and control group. The intake of B vitamins (B1, B2 and B6) among the respondents cases and control in the present study was less than the RDA. Hemoglobin level among 83% of respondents cases within the normal range (10.4–15.6g/dl)and 13.4% were anemic (<10. 4g/dl). Significant association was found between energy intake(P=0.001), carbohydrate intake (P=0.041) zinc intake (P=0.027) and magnesium intake (P=0.002) with chemotherapy dose among cases group, On the other hand, no significant correlation were detected between intake of fat (P=0.911), cholesterol (P= 0.781), proteins intake (p= 0.336), sodium, intake (P= 0.789), potassium intake (P= 0.468), calcium intake (P=0.684), iron intake (P=0.632), and BMI (P=0.609), Hemoglobin level (P= 0.437) with chemotherapy doses among the respondents cases. The study recommended that, all breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy should have nutritional assessment from the beginning of the treatment. Nutrition education is needed among Sudanese populations regarding the breast cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy.