• COVID-19 Pharmacy Resources list (PDF)
• BC Cancer COVID-19 resources
• BC Cancer Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients with Cancer

Links to frequently accessed drug information are provided below.

Auxiliary Label List (PDF)

Biosimilar Drugs

Cancer Drug Manual

• Chemotherapy Preparation & Stability Chart A to K
• Chemotherapy Preparation & Stability Chart L to Z
• IV Bag Size & Vial Selection Table (for concentration-dependent stability or large-volume drugs only) see Volume Maximums FAQ​​​
  
• IV Containers & Tubing: Non-PVC/Non-DEHP Guide​
• Dose Banding Tables (for drugs approved for dose banding)
• Drug Index
• Fluorouracil and Capecitabine Dosing Based on DPYD Activity Score (DPYD-AS) dosing table
• Monoclonal Antibody List (for monoclonal antibody drugs that are permitted a dose variance of +/-10% (vs. standard 5%))​
  

Cancer Drug Pharmacology Table

Cancer Management Manual

​ Complementary & Alternative Therapies (CAMs)

• Natural Health Products and Breast Cancer
• Natural Health Products and Cancer Therapy

Drug Funding (BC Cancer & Other sources of drug funding)

• Out-of-province (eligibility) [bccpharmacypatientbilling@bccancer.bc.ca]

Extravasation

• Systemic Therapy Policy III-20 Prevention and Management of Extravasation of Chemotherapy [SHOP]

Final compounded cancer drug product check

• Final Compounded Chemotherapy Product Check [Clinical Pharmacy Guide - Appendices - Appendix C]
  
• A.2 Final Product and Computer Order Entry Check [Safe Handling Manual – Module 2 – Module]
• Systemic Therapy Policy V-40: Dispensing and Labeling of Vinca Alkaloid Preparations [SHOP] (health authority network access required)

Fluorouracil

• Fluorouracil Overdose
• Elastomeric Infusors for fluorouracil (5-FU) Pharmacy FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions - Cancer Drug Preparation and Administration]

Hazardous Drug List

• BC Hazardous Drugs List (opens in TeamSite - health authority network access required)
• BC Cancer Addendum

Immunizations and Infection Prophylaxis

Infusion-Related Reactions Management

• SCDRUGRX Protocol
• SCDRUGRX PPO-A Immediate Mgmt

Patient Safety Handouts/Education

• Patient Safety Handbook
• Safe Disposal of Sharps
• Handling Cancer Drugs and Body Fluids in the Home

Pregnancy

• Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs and Pregnancy

Supportive Care Protocols for guidelines, and orders and handouts where available for:

• Anti-emetics (SCNAUSEA)
• Cytokine Release Syndrome management (SCCRS)
• Denosumab for prostate cancer bone mets (SCDMAB)
• Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (SCESA)
  
• Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation Prophylaxis (SCHBV)
  
• Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome management (SCICANS)
  
• Immunotherapy Immune-mediated AEs management (SCIMMUNE)
• Infusion-related Reactions management (SCDRUGRX)
• Lidocaine parenterally for extreme pain (SCPAINLI)
• Magic Mouthwash for oral mucositis (SCMMW)
  
• Mesna for hematuria secondary to oxazaphosphorines (SCMESNA)
• Oxaliplatin desensitization (SCOXRX)
• Sufentanil sublingually for incidental pain (SCPAINSU)

TALLman lettering

• VI-90-01: Use of TALLman Lettering for Medication Nomenclature [SHOP] (health authority network access required)

For specific drug information not found above, please contact your local BC Cancer Pharmacy department or Provincial Drug Information at: druginfo@bccancer.bc.ca or 604-877-6275.

Links to information about educational resources for pharmacy are provided here. Also see the Guides & Manuals section below.

Pharmacy Education Programs

Go to the Pharmacy Education section of the BC Cancer website for information about the self-directed BC Cancer Oncology Pharmacy Education Program modules or the BC Cancer Pharmacy Residency Program.

CON pharmacy educators

Visit the Community Oncology Network Pharmacy Educator page to explore available support for oncology pharmacy staff working outside of the BC Cancer Centres.

Contact your CON Pharmacy Educator with questions, to be added to a mailing list, or to arrange a videoconference presentation or site visit for your site.

Frequently asked questions

Refer to the FAQ web page for an archive of frequently asked questions from oncology pharmacy staff.

Some recent changes to the FAQs:

Antinausea Medication - PharmaCare Funding (Revised May 2025)

Dexrazoxane (Revised Aug 2025)

Pharmacy Rounds

BC Cancer Provincial Pharmacy Rounds are usually held on the fourth Thursday of each month and may be open to CON pharmacy staff.

Join your CON Pharmacy Educator's mailing list for an invite and to suggest topics of interest. Connection information is sent out the week of the rounds, and slide copies are available the morning of the rounds.

ST Update Newsletter

The Systemic Therapy Update newsletter is distributed by email once monthly and published on the Systemic Therapy part of the website.

The implementation of new and revised BC Cancer treatment programs, policies and procedures are generally coordinated with an announcement in the Systemic Therapy Update. This ensures that important practice changes at BC Cancer are supported with timely communication and/or education. Contact bulletin@bccancer.bc.ca to subscribe.

BC Cancer Pharmacy has developed the following guides and manuals to assist pharmacy staff in their oncology practice.

Cancer Drug Manual

The Cancer Drug Manual contains general cancer drug information: monographs, preparation and stability charts, auxiliary labels (oral), Hazardous Drugs List, Extravasation Hazard Table, and relevant patient handouts. It is developed with multi-disciplinary input and managed by BC Cancer Provincial Pharmacy.

Clinical Pharmacy Guide

The Clinical Pharmacy Guide - Clinical Assessment of BC Cancer Drug Treatment Protocols is a comprehensive guide that leads the pharmacist through the process of interpreting and clinically assessing BC Cancer treatment protocols and orders. It is developed and maintained by the CON Pharmacy Educators, and consists of a didactic section followed by case studies.

Safe Handling Standards Manual

The Safe Handling Standards Manual - BC Cancer Pharmacy Practice Standards for Hazardous Drugs contains aseptic and safe handling best practice standards for hazardous drugs, and standards for pharmacy oncology medication checking, followed by BC Cancer Pharmacy for safe and accurate delivery of cancer drug therapy. It is developed and maintained by the BC Cancer Pharmacy Oncology Certification Program.

Symptom & Side Effect Management Resource Guide

The Symptom & Side Effect Management Resource Guide is a repository of convenient links to symptom and side effect management related information on a variety of topics. It is collated and maintained by the CON Pharmacy Educators.

Links to frequently accessed hazardous drug safe handling information are provided below.

Ambulatory drug delivery infusion devices

• E.4 Ambulatory Drug Delivery Infusion Devices [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module]

Biohazardous drugs

• Biohazardous Drugs Pharmacy FAQ
• VI-40 Safe Handling and Preparation of Hazardous Drug Dosage Forms [SHOP] (health authority network access required)

Biological safety cabinets

• Checklists [Safe Handling Manual - Module 1]
• Morning Cleaning of Interior BSCs
• Daily Decontamination of Interior BSC Surfaces
• Weekly Decontamination of the BSC
• VI-20: Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) Decontamination [SHOP] (health authority network access required)
• VI-60: Biological Safety Cabinets – Selection and Maintenance [SHOP] (health authority network access required)
• For BSC malfunction procedures, refer to Appendix 1 – Suggested Regional procedures for BSC Malfunction or Power Interruption

Closed System Transfer Device (CSTD)

• E.2.14 Closed System Transfer Device [Safe Handling Manual - Module 1 – Module]
• See various Checklists [Safe Handling Manual - Module 1] for compounding with ChemoLock^TMcomponents

Hand washing

• D.3 Hand Hygiene [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module]
• Checklists [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1]
• Hand Hygiene for Personnel Working in the Clean Room
  
• Exiting the Clean Room to Wash Hands Every 30 Minutes during HD Compounding

Hazardous drug list

• BC Hazardous Drugs List (opens in TeamSite - health authority network access required)
• BC Cancer Addendum 
  

Hazardous drug spills

• Checklists [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1]
• HD Spill Control in Pharmacy
• Clean-up of a Spill Within a BSC
• Clean-up of Spills outside the BSC that may Reasonably Be Contained and Cleaned within the Centre's Capacity
  
• Clean-up of Spills outside the BSC that may be Beyond a Centre's Capacity to Contain and Clean
• Safe Handling Part 3 - Hazardous Drug Spills course [Learning Hub - PHSA - BCC - PHARM​]
  
• Systemic Therapy Procedure V-30: Hazardous Drug Spill Management [SHOP] (health authority network access required)
  
• J.1 Accidental Exposure to Hazardous Drugs [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module]
  
• D.4.2 Safety Stations [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module]

Labels

• Auxiliary Label List 
  
• F.1.6 Warning Labels [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module]
• VI-100 Transportation of Hazardous Drugs [SHOP] (health authority network access required)
  

Occupational exposure

• Safe Handling Part 1 - General Overview course [PHSA Learning Hub - PHSA-BCC-PHARM]
  
• Systemic Therapy Policy V-20 Employee Health: Management of Risks Related to Hazardous Drugs Practice Guidelines [SHOP] (health authority network access required)
  
• See also the Pregnancy section below
  

Oral hazardous drug procedures

• VI-40 Safe Handling and Preparation of Hazardous Drug Dosage Forms [SHOP] (health authority network access required)
  

Patient waste and contaminated supplies

• Systemic Therapy Policy V-10 Hazardous Drug Safe Handling [SHOP]
• Guidelines for Disposal of Sharp Medical Supplies (Sharps)
• Handling Cancer Drugs and Body Fluids in the Home

Personal protective equipment

• Chemotherapy Gloves Pharmacy FAQ
• Checklists [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1]
• For controlled area with anteroom & clean room only
• Donning of PPE to Enter a HD Clean Room
• Donning of PPE When Working in a BSC
• Removal of PPE when Exiting the Clean Room
• Removal of PPE after Working in a BSC
• For controlled area with other rooms in addition to anteroom & clean room
• Donning of PPE to Enter a HD Clean Room When Not Working in a BSC
• Donning of PPE When Working in a BSC
• Removal of PPE when Exiting the Clean Room
• VI-30: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) [SHOP] (health authority network access required)
  
• Respirator Masks Pharmacy FAQ

Pregnancy

• Safety for Pregnancy Pharmacy FAQ
  

Topical hazardous drug procedures

• VI-40 Safe Handling and Preparation of Hazardous Drug Dosage Forms [SHOP] (health authority network access required)
  

Transportation, receipt & storage of hazardous drugs

• Final Compounded Chemotherapy Product Check [Clinical Pharmacy Guide - Appendices - Appendix C] (Step 7 labelling and packaging)
• K. Receipt, Storage and Transportation of HD [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module]

These links are to hazardous drug safe handling information on the BC Cancer website. If you would like to suggest additions or changes please contact Mandeep K. Bains at mkbains@bccancer.bc.ca or Sonia Szombathy at sszombathy@bccancer.bc.ca