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Pharmacy

We prepare, assess, monitor and educate about cancer drug therapy for our patients, and support pharmacy staff in BC who provide oncology medications to cancer patients.

The BC Cancer Pharmacy website includes our contact and drug funding information, in addition to our clinical, educational and procedural resources. It also contains an archive of FAQ questions frequently asked by Community Oncology Network (CON) pharmacy staff, and links to other pharmacy-related sections of the BC Cancer website.

Resources

 

 

Links to frequently accessed drug information are provided below.


Auxiliary Label List


Biosimilar Drugs


Cancer Drug Manual


Cancer Drug Pharmacology Table (PDF)


Cancer Management Manual


Complementary & Alternative Therapies (CAMs)

Cytokine Release Syndrome Management

Drug Funding

Extravasation

Fluorouracil Overdose (PDF)


Hazardous Drug List

Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions to Checkpoint Inhibitors


Immunotherapy (Immunotherapy irAEs)

Immunizations and Infection Prophylaxis


Infusion-Related Reactions Management

Patient Safety Handouts/Education

Pregnancy

See 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)

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.

 

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

The BC Cancer Communities Oncology Network (CON) Pharmacy Educators support ongoing CON oncology pharmacy staff development and are available to:

  • answer oncology pharmacy questions
  • provide the What's New @ BC Cancer newsletter with relevant resource and practice updates
  • prepare and deliver educational in-service training
  • send invites to relevant Pharmacy Rounds
  • develop and maintain pharmacy website, resources and educational content

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:

Hepatitis B Reactivation and Screening (Revised October 2023)

Daratumumab Pre-treatment Blood Screening (Created August 2023)

Antinausea Medication - PharmaCare Funding (Dec 2022)


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 via videoconference or teleconference.


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.


STU Newsletter and Education Bulletin

The monthly Systemic Therapy Update newsletter and associated Education Bulletin are published under 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 planned coordination allows important practice-related implementations at BC Cancer to be accompanied by appropriate communication and/or education.


Email your CON Pharmacy Educator to be added to the relevant mailing list.

 

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


Clinical Pharmacy Guide

The Clinical Pharmacy Guide: Cancer Drug Treatment Assessment and Review 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.


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.

 

Biohazardous drugs

Biological safety cabinets

Closed System Transfer Device (CSTD)

  • E.2.14 Closed System Transfer Device [Safe Handling Manual - Module 1 – Module] (PDF)
  • See various Checklists [Safe Handling Manual - Module 1] for compounding with ChemoLockTMcomponents

Elastomeric infusion devices

  • E.4 Ambulatory Drug Delivery Infusion Devices [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module].
  • Elastomeric Infusors for fluorouracil (5-FU) Pharmacy FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions - Cancer Drug Preparation and Administration]

Final compounded cancer drug product check

Hand washing

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

Hazardous drug list

Hazardous drug spills

  • Checklists (PDF) [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
  • Hazardous Drug Spill Control in Pharmacy in-service presentation [Learning Hub - BC Cancer Pharmacy - CON In-service]
  • VI-10: Hazardous Drug Spill Control in Pharmacy (PDF) [SHOP]
  • J.1 Accidental Exposure to Hazardous Drugs [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module (PDF)]
  • D.4.2 Safety Stations [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module (PDF)]

Labels

Occupational exposure

Oral hazardous drug procedures

Patient waste and contaminated supplies

Personal protective equipment

  • Chemotherapy Gloves Pharmacy FAQ (PDF)
  • Checklists (PDF) [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) (PDF) [SHOP]
  • Respirator Masks Pharmacy FAQ (PDF)

Pregnancy

TALLman lettering

Topical hazardous drug procedures

Transportation, receipt & storage of hazardous drugs

  • K.1 Receipt and Storage [Safe Handling Manual – Module 1 – Module (PDF)]

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


Policies

The Provincial Systemic Therapy Program policies and procedures, and the  BC Cancer Provincial Pharmacy procedures and directives have been moved to the Shared Health Organizations Portal (SHOP). 

Search the 'Document Index' by keyword or policy number, or use the quick link pages below, to find:

  • Provincial Pharmacy Procedures and Directives are accessible from the SHOP Provincial Pharmacy Program quick link page
  • Provincial Systemic Therapy Program Policies and Procedures (also accessible from the Systemic Therapy quick link page)
    • III-10 Systemic Therapy Delivery Process
    • III-20 Chemotherapy Extravasation Policy
    • III-50 Hazardous Drugs Intrathecal Administration
    • V-40 Dispensing and Labeling of Vinca Alkaloid Preparations
    • and more.....


Contact info

This section provides contact information for services frequently contacted by pharmacy staff who supply medications to cancer patients.

BC Cancer pharmacy departments

BC Cancer – Abbotsford - Tel: 604-851-4709; Fax: 604-851-4723
BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) - Tel: 250-645-7306; Fax: 250-645-7336
BC Cancer – Surrey - Tel: 604-930-4002; Fax: 604-930-4044
BC Cancer – Vancouver - Tel: 604-877-6135; Fax: 604-877-6132
BC Cancer – Victoria - Tel: 250-519-5510; Fax: 250-519-5514
BC Cancer - Kelowna - Tel: 250-712-3952; Fax: 250-712-3968

BC Cancer pharmacy educators, Community Oncology Network

Fraser Health and Northern Health (West)

Khushminder Rai
BC Cancer - Surrey
khushminder.rai@bccancer.bc.ca
(604) 675 - 4100 ext. 203813

Interior Health

Sonia Szombathy
BC Cancer - Kelowna
(604) 675-4100 ext. 203812

Island Health

Jackie Buston
BC Cancer - Victoria
jbuston@bccancer.bc.ca
(604) 675-4100 ext. 203899

Vancouver Coastal, Northern Health (East), and Yukon

Mandeep K. Bains
BC Cancer - Vancouver
mkbains@bccancer.bc.ca
(604) 675-4100 ext. 203814


Community Oncology Network (CON) hospitals

Laboratory Services

CON retail billing enquiries 

(i.e. requests for reimbursement from patients for cancer drugs purchased at a retail pharmacy):

CON hospital billing enquiries 

involving the Online System for Cancer Drugs and Reimbursement (OSCAR)
Tel: 1-888-355-0355

Compassionate Access Program (CAP)

Tel: 1-604-877-6277 or 1-800-663-3333 ext. 676277

Drug information

Please contact your local BC Cancer Pharmacy Department or contact Provincial Drug Information at: druginfo@bccancer.bc.ca or 604-877-6275.

Financial Support Drug Program

For general information see Financial Support Drug Program [Drug Funding].

The Financial Support Drug Program, formerly known as the Emergency Aid Program, will end as of November 30, 2020.  

Community retail pharmacies will have until December 15, 2020 to file reimbursement claims of drug costs by phone: 
Tel: 1-604-877-6000 or 1-800-663-3333 ext. 672515 
(9:30am to 1:00pm Monday – Thursday only)

Interpreters

To place a request for a language or sign language interpreter (at no cost), call 604-297-8400 or toll-free 1-877-BC TALKS (1-877-228-2557). For more information on the service please see the Provincial Language Service website.

Oncology Certification Program

Tel: 1-250-712-3900 ext. 686741 or 686820

Patient assistance

see Patient Assistance Programs [Systemic Therapy - Reimbursement & Forms]

Pharmacare

For Pharmacare oncology information, please call: 1-800-554-0225

See the Pharmacare web page for information such as:
  • Information for prescribers
  • Provide your input into Pharmacare Formulary Decisions 
  • Pharmacare Formulary Search

Rounds

To connect to medical oncology rounds by videolink, please contact both:

To connect to BC Cancer pharmacy rounds:

  • By videolink:
    • Reserve videolinked room at your centre
    • Contact PHSA Telehealth Services AT LEAST 1 day prior to rounds at: telehealth@phsa.ca
    • 1-866-966-4347

Systemic Therapy Update Newsletter

To subscribe, please contact bulletin@bccancer.bc.ca

Web page updates

Please contact Mandeep K. Bains or Sonia Szombathy with suggestions or questions about the pharmacy web pages.

Tab Heading

 

 

BC Cancer Agency Pharmacy Departments

Abbotsford Centre: 604-851-4709
Centre for the North (Prince George): 250-645-7306
Centre for the Southern Interior (Kelowna): 250-712-3952
Fraser Valley Centre (Surrey): 604-930-4002
Vancouver Centre: 604-877-6135
Vancouver Island Centre (Victoria): 250-519-5510

Communities Oncology Network Educators

Hospitals in BC/Yukon 

Fraser Health and Northern Health

Lynne Ferrier
Fraser Valley Centre (Surrey)
lferrier@bccancer.bc.ca
(604) 930-4055 Local 654501

Interior Health

Rhonda Kalyn
Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior (Kelowna)
rkalyn@bccancer.bc.ca
(250) 712-3966 Local 686727

Vancouver Coastal, Northern Health, and Yukon

Mandeep K. Bains
Vancouver Centre (Vancouver)
mkbains@bccancer.bc.ca
(604) 877-6000 Local 672240

Island Health

Sanna Pellatt
Vancouver Island Centre (Victoria)
spellatt@bccancer.bc.ca
(250) 519-5500 ext 693745

CON Retail Billing Enquiries 

(i.e. requests for reimbursement from patients for cancer drugs purchased at a retail pharmacy):
Email: bccapatientbilling@bccancer.bc.ca

CON Hospital Billing Enquires 

involving the Online System for Cancer Drugs and Reimbursement (OSCAR)
Email: oscar@bccancer.bc.ca
Tel: 1-888-355-0355

Compassionate Access Program (CAP)

Email: cap_bcca@bccancer.bc.ca
Tel: 1-604-877-6277 or 1-800-663-3333 (Ext 676277)

Drug Information

Please contact your local BCCA Pharmacy Department or contact Provincial Drug Information at: Druginfo@bccancer.bc.ca or 604-877-6275.

Financial Support Drug Program

See the Financial Support Drug Program (FSDP) webpage for general information.

To enroll patients in the Financial Support Drug Program, contact the nearest Canadian Cancer Society office. Note that patients can now contact the Canadian Cancer society themselves to enroll in the program.

For community pharmacy reimbursement of drug costs under the Financial Support Drug Program:
Email: BCCA-EAP@bccancer.bc.ca
Tel: 1-604-877-6000 or 1-800-663-3333 (Ext 672515) 
(9:30am to 1:00pm Monday – Thursday only)

Oncology Certification Program

Email: rxchemocert@bccancer.bc.ca
Tel: 1-250-712-3900 (Ext 686741 or 686820)

Patient Assistance

see Patient Assistance Programs [Reimbursement & Forms]

Pharmacare

For Pharmacare oncology information, please call: 1-800-554-0225

The BC Ministry of Health also provides information for pharmacists:
Information for prescribers
Provide your input into Pharmacare Formulary Decisions 
Pharmacare Formulary Search

Rounds

To connect to medical oncology rounds by videolink, please contact both:
Multimedia: 
mmedia@bccancer.bc.ca
1-604-707-5900 ext. 2150
toll-free 1-800-663-3333 ext. 2150 
Carilyn Gascoyne:
cgascoyn@bccancer.bc.ca (for email notification of topics)
To connect to BC Cancer Agency Pharmacy Rounds:
By teleconference:
Contact PHSA Telehealth Services AT LEAST 1 DAY prior to rounds at: telehealth@phsa.ca
1-866-966-4347
Dial-in: 604-707-4540 or 1-855-807-4540
Passcode: get from organizer
By videolink:
Reserve videolinked room at your centre
Contact PHSA Telehealth Services AT LEAST 1 day prior to rounds at: telehealth@phsa.ca
1-866-966-4347
Systemic Therapy Update Newsletter

To subscribe, please contact bulletin@bccancer.bc.ca

Web Page Updates

Please contact Mandeep K. Bains or Rhonda Kalyn with suggestions or questions about the pharmacy web pages.
SOURCE: Pharmacy ( )
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