Wrong chemo drugs?

NisaVilla

In the private practice where I get my chemo, there is a 20-year old tech responsible for the job of mixing chemo drugs. I learned that at academic centers, the mixing is handled and supervised by 3 licensed pharmacists.



How is it where you get yours? Are you ever afraid of human error? I have read some stories about patients getting the wrong chemo!



Thanks for sharing your perspective.

NisaVilla

I am surprised that one one responded to this topic. I am resending in the hope that it will generate some responses this time. Thank you.

leaf

It is scary to know you are receiving drugs that can be very, very toxic if given in the wrong dose.

I don't know how it is at your place, but at my local hospital, the chemo orders are written by the doctor, one pharmacist calculates/recalculates the doses  (sometimes the doctor orders the chemo in terms of mg/body surface area or mg/body weight), another pharmacist checks the calculations (or a chemo nurse if there is only one pharmacist on duty), the pharmacy tech makes the medication, the pharmacist checks it, then the chemo nurse also re-checks the meds.  I don't know if they also have another chemo nurse re-check the meds again.

Its certainly possible that someone could go through all these checks and they all make a mistake, but I don't think that is very likely.

I have heard that at some out-patient chemo infusion centers they can do things differently.  I am guessing that each place may have different rules how they do things.

I'm sure you are not alone in being scared.  It is scary putting your life in the care of people you don't know.