Chemotherapy shortage sparks small number of Alberta treatment delays
CBC
A drug shortage, causing worry for some Alberta ovarian cancer patients, appears to be resolving.
According to Alberta Health Services, 14 patients had their treatment delayed last week due to a shortage of a chemotherapy drug, liposomal doxorubicin.
It's used to treat several cancers, including gynecological and breast cancer, and is often a key treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer.
"There is a nationwide shortage of a specialized cancer drug that is impacting care of a small number of patients in Alberta," AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson said in a statement shared with CBC News.
"Since December 2022, AHS has monitored and managed this shortage by moving inventory within the province and making the best use of the supply they have."
"It's always scary for patients, for their families, for their providers, when you don't have access to a medication easily," said Dr. Rachelle Findley, a gynecologic oncologist and director of communications with the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada.
"Every centre across Canada would have looked at any potential patient that would have been impacted and assessed to say, 'Do you need that medication right now, can it be stopped, does it need to be switched or is it just a time to take a break from chemotherapy,' which sometimes is the best option for everybody."
The shortage, she said, appears to be resolving.
"Thankfully, we do have other agents in our toolbox. So for the vast majority of patients, we can easily switch them onto a different regimen that will probably not have a significant impact on their treatment course," said Findley.
"This particular shortage was quite short. And many centres [across Canada] actually had sufficient supply. So the number of actual treatments that would have been impacted are quite minimal."
According to AHS, the 14 Alberta patients delayed last week resumed to treatment this week along with all other scheduled patients.
"Fortunately, AHS received 200 vials of the drug [Tuesday], which should provide sufficient coverage for existing patients in the short-term," said Williamson, who noted that shipment is enough to cover patient treatments this week and next.
Supplies are expected to return to normal by the end of the month, he said.
The manufacturer, Taro Pharmaceuticals, did not respond to inquiries from CBC News.
It's arguably Dawson City, Yukon's most iconic and beloved old taverns, and in a town renowned for its watering holes — another bar famously serves drinks garnished with a desiccated human toe — that's saying something.
First Nation expresses opposition to major projects ahead of prime minister's visit to Prince Rupert
Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Prince Rupert today to meet with Coastal First Nations to discuss major projects in northern B.C.
The Manitoba government will not order public servants back into the office full-time, bucking recent moves by Ontario and Alberta.
Before the sun rises and the first customers arrive, Dora Rzeszutek unlocks the front door of B & B Snack Bar restaurant in London's Woodfield neighbourhood.
When U.S. President Donald Trump’s top trade representative outlined conditions Canada would need to meet with a mandatory review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) looming, familiar issues like dairy supply management made the list.
Thousands of people living in Newfoundland and Labrador started the day without electricity, as Newfoundland Power dealt with widespread outages.
More than 700 people have been evacuated from Kashechewan First Nation so far, according to the community’s executive director. But most of the community is still waiting to leave.
A community-based response team being piloted in Dartmouth, N.S., offering an alternative model to police to support people in crisis, is expanding to 24-hour service.
N.B. Power estimated it would need to increase revenue from power rates by almost five per cent to pay for electricity from a new natural gas generating station in Tantramar, according to documents filed with the Energy and Utilities Board.
Local groups for snowmobilers, skiers and snowshoers are working hard to clear trails in and around Flin Flon, Man., but poor snow conditions and damage from last summer's fires — hundreds of downed trees, burned terrain, upturned roots and destroyed buildings and bridges — is making it difficult.
When Jermain McKenzie thinks of Trevor Dubois, he remembers an infectious laugh and a sense of humor that makes you laugh until you’re crying.
This story is a collaboration between CBC Visual Investigations and the Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF).
Overcrowding at the Niagara Detention Centre (NDC) reached its highest levels since 2019 in the first half of 2025 — with an occupancy rate of 136 per cent, according to data analyzed by CBC News.