Carcinoembryonic Antigen Level and Blood Transfusion Requirements among Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment in Calabar, Nigeria

Breast tumour could be benign or malignant in nature, thus early detection is of the essence for good management outcome. Associated morbidity and mortality in relation to breast cancer, in particular, are of great concern. Among the different challenges in the management of breast cancer, cytopenia is commonly reported, while, associated blood transfusion dependence has received little attention. This study, therefore, looked into the features of breast cancer patients particularly with regards to disease staging and average blood transfusion needs. This cross-sectional descriptive study enrolled 46 female patients accessing medical care for breast tumour in Southern Nigeria. Bio-data and information on clinical assessment were obtained from patients’ case files. Blood sample was collected from each enrolled subject for assessment of carcinoembryonic antigen level by immunochromatographic assay method. Breast tumour was observed to be prevalent among women of reproductive age with a peak at the age range of 36-45 years. Majority of the cases (82.6 %) turned out to be malignant, while 17.4% were benign conditions. Advanced stage 4 cases accounted for 47.4% of the studied group. Increasing prevalence of mortality during therapy was recorded alongside advancement in age as well as stage of the cancer. The carcinoembryonic antigen level varied significantly across the various breast cancer stages. Stage 4 breast cancer showed significantly elevated mean value compared to both stages 1 and 2. There is prevailing late detection of breast cancer in the Nigerian population contributing to high mortality rate and more demands on blood transfusion.