Anemia requiring transfusion in breast cancer patients on dose-dense chemotherapy: Prevalence, risk factors, cost and effect on disease outcome.

Anemia is a common toxicity associated with dose-dense chemotherapy during curative breast cancer treatment leading to delay in treatment and increased cost. Low-grade tumor, grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia, and grade 2 or higher anemia after two cycles of chemotherapy are risk factors for blood transfusions during treatment.