Abstract
Background: Selection of anticancer drugs for initiation of chemotherapy is an important determinant of whether the patient would continue the chemotherapy, switch to another agent, or discontinue after the first course of chemotherapy. Therefore, it is important that attention should be given to the initiating agents, their side effects, and general safety of the patients. Objectives: This study assessed the utilization of anticancer drugs at the first course of breast and cervical cancers chemotherapies over a 5-year period (2012–2016) in Oncology unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Kaduna State. Methods: This retrospective study audited 1,000 randomly selected folders (100 folders each for breast and cervical cancer per year), resulting in 500 folders each for breast and cervical cancer patients. Results: Majority (31% vs. 29%) were in the age bracket of 40–49 years for breast and cervical cancers, respectively. About 79% and 97% of the anticancer and antiemetic drugs, respectively, were prescribed by their generic names. The most utilized anticancer drugs for initiation of chemotherapy of 500 patients with breast or cervical cancer within the study period for breast versus cervical cancer, respectively, were Cisplatin [1,140 vs. 624 dosage units (DUs)], 5-Fluorouracil (860 vs. 292 DUs), and Paclitaxel (709 vs. 319 DUs). The widely utilized antiemetic agents for prevention or management of nausea and vomiting at the initiation of chemotherapy of 500 patients with breast or cervical cancer during the study periods for breast versus cervical cancer, respectively, were Dexamethasone (1,940 vs. 1,260 DUs), Metoclopramide (1,220 vs. 320 DUs), and Ondansetron (1,080 vs. 300 DUs). Conclusion: Cisplatin and Dexamethasone were most utilized anticancer and antiemetic drugs, respectively, for initiation of chemotherapy for both breast and cervical cancers in the studied hospital.