Systemic Therapy Information

Systemic therapy is high risk medication and, therefore, must be prepared, administered and handled according to specific guidelines. The Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program has developed several resources for health professionals to promote quality and safe practices associated with systemic therapy.

The NSHA IV Drug Therapy Manual is the primary source of information about oncology drugs. Where there are no variations in practice, a link redirecting to the BC Cancer IV drug monograph will be included. If discrepancies in IV Drug monographs are identified, please notify Pharmacy. Discrepancies will be brought forward and reviewed by the Oncology Therapy Subcommittee.


Patient information for systemic therapy drug regimens can be found at Library Services. In the case where no NS resource exists, patient information from BC Cancer can be used to support education.

Information on oral systemic therapy drugs can be found by accessing the ‘Pharmacy Toolkit’. This is a quick reference guide to support community pharmacies in dispensing of oral cancer drugs, as well as a guide to patient call-backs and adverse effects to anticipate. If you identify an adverse effect in your patient on the drug you have dispensed, click on ‘ADR Management’ for another guide offering practical advice on what you can do to help the patient, including supportive care products to consider. BC Cancer’s Cancer Drug Manual. can also be used as a trusted source of systemic therapy information.
 
Systemic Therapy Information  
Oral Cancer Drug Name  
ABIRATERONEADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
ANASTROZOLE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
AXITINIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
CAPECITABINE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
CHLORAMBUCIL ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
DASATINIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
ENZALUTAMIDEN/aPharmacy Toolkit
ETOPOSIDE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
EVEROLIMUS ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
EXEMESTANE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
FLUDARABINE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
GEFITINIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
HYDROXYUREA ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
LAPATINIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
LETROZOLE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
LOMUSTINE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
MELPHALAN ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
MERCAPTOPURINE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
METHOTREXATE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
MITOTANE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
NILOTINIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
PAZOPANIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
PROCARBAZINE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
SORAFENIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
SUNITINIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
TAMOXIFEN ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
TEMOZOLOMIDE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
THALIDOMIDE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
THIOGUANINE ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
TRETINOIN ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit
VEMURAFENIB ADR GuidePharmacy Toolkit