The Pharmacy is located on the 6th floor of the Vancouver Centre
Opening Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday

For inpatient services, Pharmacy will be available daily on-site and by pager 87-03501 when not on site.

Outpatient Services

Drugs Supplied:
Although medications for supportive care, such as antinauseants or pain control medications must be picked up at a community pharmacy, all medications used to treat your cancer are provided free of charge at the Vancouver Centre. Injections, which require special mixing procedures, are prepared by specially-trained Pharmacy staff for Nurses to administer while you are at the Centre. Tablets or capsules to take by mouth at home are dispensed from the 6th Floor Pharmacy.

Refilling prescriptions (getting more when you run out):
Usually, a maximum of 3 months' supply of tablets or capsules is dispensed at one time. If your oncologist intends for you to take the medications for more than 3 months, he or she may authorize Pharmacy to dispense further supplies (refills) when you run out. If that is the case, when you first receive the medication, the Pharmacist will give you a card with information on how to obtain refills.

In some situations, your oncologist may want to see you or talk with you before Pharmacy can dispense more medication for you. You would then have to contact your oncologist to provide Pharmacy with a new prescription before more medication can be dispensed. To ensure that there is enough time to make all the necessary arrangements, please call your oncologist two weeks before you run out of medication.

Drug Information:
You will be given verbal and written instructions about your medications when they are dispensed. Pharmacists can provide information about any medications you are taking, including those prescribed by other physicians and those you choose to take yourself (such as vitamins and complementary therapies). To assist you in obtaining the best possible results from your treatment, we want you to know about your medications, how to take them, their possible side effects, how to manage or prevent those side effects and any other medication-related information which may help you.

Pharmacists are available in the 6th Floor Pharmacy from 08:30 to 17:00 every weekday to answer most questions. Some questions about your medications may require more time to answer so a suitable time for a consultation, either in person or over the telephone, can be arranged. You may also phone us for information or ask the nurse at your next appointment to arrange a consultation with a pharmacist.

Inpatient Services
Pharmacists are also involved in your care if you stay in the Centre as an inpatient. As well as providing all medications you require during your stay, we work with the rest of your care team to ensure that your drug treatment continues to provide the best results. We are available to discuss any concerns you may have about, and help make arrangements for, the medications you are taking during your hospital stay and those that you may need after discharge. Although most medications are provided for you during your hospital stay, it is a good idea to bring any you are currently taking along with you when you are admitted. This will contribute valuable information about your current treatment and will also ensure that you don't miss any scheduled doses immediately after admission.

For more information, please call: (604) 877-6135 or 1-800-663-3333 local 6135.

Cancer Drug Information