Carmen Sebastian listened to her voicemail on Friday afternoon and was shocked to find out her upcoming chemotherapy appointment at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital had been cancelled.
“I didn’t know if it was all the chemo drugs or just specific to my condition.”
Sebastian was diagnosed with stage four terminal colon cancer over a year ago and said she relies on the drugs to keep her alive.
She found out on Monday her appointment was cancelled as a result of a shortage of the cancer drug Fluorouracil.
“I was a little bit afraid that if it had gone too long it could set me back again, because it doesn’t take long for this cancer to start up again,” Sebastian said.
“I’m a little further along in the journey, but the ones who are starting their journey, it’s really important to them because that cancer is growing quickly inside and they need to get that stopped.”
Health Canada has now said it will be releasing over 3,608 vials of Fluorouracil, the drug used for chemotherapy cancer treatment, in light of a shortage.
“These vials were previously quarantined as a precautionary measure, while the company conducted an investigation into the root cause of cracked or leaking vials, as described in a risk communication published by Health Canada on October 2016,” Health Canada said in a statement.
“Due to the medical necessity of this medication, and in light of the current shortage situation, Health Canada does not object to the release of these units. The release will be accompanied with an updated risk communication to health care professionals to instruct them to visually inspect the vials prior to use.”
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Ontario’s Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins said the situation is “regrettable,” adding the drug was available at other nearby hospitals.
“There will likely be lessons to be learned from this,” Hoskins said.
“We have a process in place provincially where we are able to determine the inventory of a particular drug across the province. In this case, it was available at many other hospitals and we have the ability then to move the drug from hospital to hospital to deal with any shortfalls that may occur at any particular location.”
Hoskins confirmed the drug will be delivered to the Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital Tuesday afternoon.
Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital has not responded to a request for comment from Global News.
Sebastian said the hospital has since called her and said they will reschedule her appointment as soon as the drug comes in and the hospital will stay open on Saturday to accommodate patients.
Sebastian said the drug gives her more time with her family.
“It’s spending time with my son and my granddaughter and doing things together,” she said.
“It gives them an opportunity to give to know their grandmother a bit better.”
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