First experience with chemotherapy administration in Alexander Monro Breast Cancer Hospital (AMZ): is it safe?
E Göker, S. Grosfeld, I. de Graaf, J.N.H. Timmer-Bonte
Voorzitter(s): prof. dr. M.M.H. Kramer, VUmc, Amsterdam & dr. C.G. Vermeij, Deventer Ziekenhuis
Woensdag 22 april 2015
15:00 - 16:00u
in Zaal 0.5
Categorieën: parallelsessie (case reports/research)
Parallel sessie: Parallelsessie 4: Case reports/research
The Alexander Monro Breast Cancer Hospital is the first (only) specialized breast cancer (BC) clinic in the the Netherlands. All medical staff, all diagnostic and treatment facilities required in integrated breast cancer care are available with exception of an intensive care unit. Specialisms occasionally needed in breast cancer care (e.g. cardiologists, pulmonologists) are not in-house services, but we collaborate with different caregivers in hospitals all over the the Netherlands. Since the start of AMZ we encounter professional scepticism and even overt disapproval whether it is safe to treat BC in a ‘private’ (zelfstandig behandelcentrum) setting.
We present the first data of chemotherapy-treated patients (pts). From opening in 5/2013 until 1/2015 168 pts (median age 54 yrs, range 26-75, no severe comorbidity) were eligible for chemotherapy according to the current Dutch BC guidelines. Only 14 pts preferred chemotherapy-treatment in a hospital closer to home. 80 pts have completed chemo(immuno) therapy and 74 pts are on actual treatment still. The majority (98%) is treated with curative intent: 67/154 (44%) in neoadjuvant setting, 58% received docetaxel-doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (TAC) and 23% AC(-T)). No fatal complications were seen. Chemotherapy-related hospital admission rate was 8 pts (5%) with median duration 1 day (range 1-3): febrile neutropenia (2pts), severe mucositis (2pts) and miscellaneous (4pts). Only three patients presented on emergency department of other hospitals without consulting treating physician AMZ. One of these patients was admitted with a respiratory infection.
In conclusion, chemotherapy administration is safe and complication rates as expected in a relatively young and healthy breast cancer population.
