Windsor hospital dealing with watered down cancer drug

Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj says it's been all hands on deck ever since the hospital learned it was using a watered down drug that was to enhance cancer treatments.

Close to 300 people were given an under-dose of Cyclophosphamide as part of their cancer treatment during the last 14 months.

"A serious mistake that has happened and we're dealing with patients who were under treatment for cancer so it is serious," Musyj said.

Locally, 290 patients were given the drug as part of their treatment over the past year - 17 have died.

The head of oncology at the hospital said it is unlikely the reduced dose of the chemotherapy medication will have severe consequences for patients

The hospital is reaching out to everyone who received the drug and families of the deceased.

Letters were hand-delivered to patients, informing them of the problem and Cancer Care staff members are also reaching out by phone.

The hospital has set up a hotline to answer any questions. Anyone who thinks they may have been affected can call the hospital at 519-255-8698.

Musyj said he has several questions but added that in health care, mistakes happen.

"I hate to say it that simplistically because there were people that were harmed as as result of this mistake," Musyj said. It's a serious mistake has happened. And we're dealing with patients who were under treatment for cancer. So, it is serious."

Hospitals in Oshawa, Peterborough and London had a similar problem with the drug. All got the drug from the same supplier.

"Unfortunately the error wasn't created in this institution, but because these are our patients, we want to make sure they are well looked after," said Dr. Ken Schneider, the chief of oncology at Windsor Regional Hospital.

Cancer Care Ontario says the medications came from one supplier, and it's working to determine what happened.