FYI - Ontario regions

I went weak this morning when I saw this on the news, as I did my treatment in NB, albeit not in Saint John which is where they have identified, at least for now.  I was earlier as well, but it's still nagging away in the back of my mind.  I had cyclophosphamide as part of my FEC.  My father had gemcitibine last fall, but not in either of these regions.

This went undetected for so long, and that's what really scares me.  I think I was told in my hospital that the chemo drugs were mixed on site, is that not always the case?

The doctor or whoever it was on the news this morning made some comment about how patients would have to speak to their oncologists to see if they should be concerned.  I thought to myself, oh honey, believe me, anyone remotely affected by this is already worried. 

Here is the news release from the Saint John Regional Hospital with contact info etc:

http://www.horizonnb.ca/home/information-news/news-releases/the-saint-john-regional-hospital-informs-patients-of-chemotherapy-drug-underdosing.aspx

i just read this in the toronto star...I also thought the meds were mixed on site.  At least at sunnybrooke i know that i would check in and my chemo would happen at least 1hr later because the pharmacy had to get the meds ready.  I remember reading dr.marlas book and she said to always check your first dosage and make sure it is always the same.  However in this case i dont know how a patient could have caught it - very very disturbing.  In the article i read it states that patients should not be overly concerned because the dosage was lowered by about 20% and MOs can safely lower dosages by up to 25% - not sure if this is just a spin tactic.  I did have my taxotere dosage lowered by 20% -

I've read a little more and while I think meds are mixed on site, in that particular case it may not have mattered because it was the saline bags that were over volume.  It was explained really well on one of the Ontario hospital links. They remove so much saline out of a bag before injecting it with the actual chemo, and that larger bag is used to draw several treatments from.  Obviously that would vary depending on the chemo, like the red glow juice (as I called it *gag*) wasn't bagged at all. 

rozem, I had to have my Taxotere reduced after my first dose too, but that was because they said they had actually OVER-dosed me the first time.  I guess sometimes they don't always get it right on the first try. 

btw, not to be nit-picky, but from what I've read in several places, it was a pharmacy tech, not a nurse, who picked up on the error. 

ETA:  It would appear that the company has been named: "The liquid drug was prepared by Marchese Hospital Solutions" as noted in this article: http://www.mississauga.com/news/article/1599698--did-cancer-patients-die-because-of-watered-down-chemo-cocktail "

And thanks for the above, noting that a pharmacy tech caught the problem. The more accurate info provided, the better.

A.A.

gracie - i had my tax dosage lowered because of really bad SE - my MO did tell me the same thing mentioned in the article, that dosages can be safely adjusted by up to 25%.   The TS also named the company (marchese). 

I got my call this morning

they said i will be getting information letters and i need to talk to my oncologist to see if it will make a diffrence in the treatment i had

anyone else have info