New oncology patients at BC Children’s Hospital, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, now receive state-of-the-art testing for genetic variations that increase the risk of serious complications from two common chemotherapy drugs. With the results of this testing, each child’s care team can develop a personalized treatment plan that balances the risks of side effects with the therapeutic benefits of these life-saving drugs.
“We’re very pleased to treat the 150th patient through this innovative program” says Dr. Bruce Carleton, the Director of the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme at BC Children’s Hospital and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia. “Genomic testing allows us to create an individual genetic risk assessment for every patient that helps doctors and families make more informed decisions about treatment.”