"Routine" weekly blood counts during breast irradiation for early stage cancer: are they really necessary?

The present investigation analyzed the weekly blood count assays of 73 women receiving breast irradiation after organ-preserving surgery for early stage cancer. With regard to leucopenia and anemia, grade 1 toxicity occurred in 26% and 21%, respectively, of the cases. Thrombocytopenia of any degree and grades 2-4 leucopenia or anemia were either not seen or were minimally observed. Most of the patients who experienced grade 1 or grade 2 toxicity had received preirradiation chemotherapy. We stress the importance of a baseline blood count recording prior to breast irradiation and the need for further study to define better the population for whom continuous weekly blood count determinations might prove to be useful.