• ​COVID-19 Treatment Information
• COVID -19 Testing information
  
• COVID-19 Vaccine Information 
• Clinical Guidelines
• Remote ordering of Systemic Therapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic​
  

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)

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

Extravasation

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

Final compounded cancer drug product check

• Final Compounded Chemotherapy Product Check [Clinical Pharmacy Guide - Appendices - Appendix C]
  
• Safe Handling Standards ​Manual​ – Module 2: Pharmacy Medication Checks [Module] - A.2 Final Product and Computer Order Entry Check
  
• Systemic Therapy Policy V-40: Dispensing and Labeling of Vinca Alkaloid Preparations [SHOP] Systemic Therapy Document Index​
  

Fluorouracil

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

Hazardous Drug List

• BC Provincial Hazardous Drugs List​ (opens in TeamSite - health authority network access required)
• BC Cancer Addendum to the BC Provincial Hazardous Drug List 
  

Immunizations and Infection Prophylaxis

Infusion-Related Reactions Management

• SCDRUGRX Protocol
• SCDRUGRX PPO-A Immediate Mgmt
  
• SCDRUGRX PPO-B Subsequent Cycles​​
  

Patient Safety Handouts/Education

• Patient Safety Handbook (multilingual handouts)
  
• 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 metastasis​ (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)
  
• Sufentanil sublingually for incidental pain (SCPAINSU)
  

TALLman lettering

• Provincial Pharmacy Program VI-90-01: Use of TALLman Lettering for Medication Nomenclature [SHOP​] Provincial Pharmacy Document Index (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 Educators​ 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 available 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.

Systemic Therapy Update Newsletter

On the first business day of each month, the Systemic Therapy Update newsletter is emailed to subscribers and published on the Systemic Therapy section 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 curated collection of accessible resources designed to support healthcare professionals and patients in managing symptoms and side effects across a wide range of topics. It is developed 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 Standards Manual ​– Module 1: Safe handling of hazardous drugs – Module]

Biohazardous drugs

• Biohazardous Drugs Pharmacy FAQ
• Provincial Pharmacy Directive VI-40 Safe Handling and Preparation of Hazardous Drug Dosage Forms [SHOP​] 
  

Biological safety cabinets

• Safe Handling Standards ​Manual​ - Module 1: Checklists​
  
• Morning Cleaning of Interior BSCs
• Daily Decontamination of Interior BSC Surfaces
• Weekly Decontamination of the BSC
• Provincial Pharmacy Directive/Procedure​ VI-20: Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) Decontamination [SHOP] 
  
• Provincial Pharmacy Directive VI-60: Biological Safety Cabinets – Selection and Maintenance [SHOP​] 
  
• For BSC malfunction procedures, refer to Appendix 1 (page 10) Suggested Regional procedures for BSC Malfunction or Power Interruption

Closed System Transfer Device (CSTD)

• E.2.14 Closed System Transfer Device [Safe Handling Standards Manual - Module 1: Safe handling of hazardous drugs - Module]
  
• See various Checklists [Safe Handling Standards Manual​ - Module 1: Safe handling of hazardous drugs] for compounding with ChemoLock^TMcomponents
  

Hand washing

• D.3 Hand Hygiene [Safe Handling Standards Manual - Module 1: Safe handling of hazardous drugs - Module]
• Checklists [Safe Handling Standards Manual - Module 1: Safe handling of hazardous drugs - Module]​
• 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 Provincial Hazardous Drug List ​
  
• BC Cancer Hazardous Drug List​ - Addendum 
  

Hazardous drug spills

• Checklists [Safe Handling Standards Manual​ – Module 1]
• HD Spill Control in Pharmacy (pg 72-74)
  
• 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  [Learning Hub course # 1852 - PHSA-BCC-PHARM​]
  
• Systemic Therapy Procedure V-30: Hazardous Drug Spill Management [SHOP] 
  
• J.1 Accidental Exposure to Hazardous Drugs [Safe Handling Standards Manual​– Module 1: Module]
  
• D.4.2 Safety Stations [Safe Handling Standards Manual​– Module 1: Module]

Labels

• Auxiliary Label List 
  
• F.1.6 Warning Labels [Safe Handling Standards Manual​​– Module 1: Module]​
• Provincial Pharmacy Directive VI-100 Transportation of Hazardous Drugs [SHOP​] 
  

Occupational exposure

• Safe Handling Part 1 - General Overview [Learning Hub course # 5923 - PHSA-BCC-PHARM]
  
• Systemic Therapy Policy V-20 Employee Health: Management of Risks Related to Hazardous Drugs Practice Guidelines [SHOP] 
  
• See also the Pregnancy section below
  

Oral hazardous drug procedures

• Provincial Pharmacy Directive VI-40 Safe Handling and Preparation of Hazardous Drug Dosage Forms [SHOP​] 
  

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 Standards Manual - Module 1: Safe handling of hazardous drugs - Module]​ (pg 2-12)
  
• 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
• Provincial Pharmacy Directive/Procedure​ VI-30: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) [SHOP​] 
  
• Respirator Masks Pharmacy FAQ

Pregnancy

• Safety for Pregnant Staff Pharmacy FAQ
  

Topical hazardous drug procedures

• Provincial Pharmacy Directive VI-40 Safe Handling and Preparation of Hazardous Drug Dosage Forms [SHOP​] 
  

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 Standards 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