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RESEARCH: Saul N Weingart, Jonathan Flug, Daniela Brouillard, Laurinda Morway, Ann Partridge, Sylvia Bartel, Lawrence N Shulman, and Maureen Connor Oral chemotherapy safety practices at US cancer centres: questionnaire survey BMJ 2007; 334: 407 [Abstract] [Full text]

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Safe Practice for Oral Chemotherapy

Root Tim   (16 January 2007)

Safe Practice for Oral Chemotherapy 16 January 2007
Root Tim, Immediate Past Chair, British Oncology Pharmacy Association c/o Chelsea & Westminster Hospital Send response to journal: Re: Safe Practice for Oral Chemotherapy	Dear Sir, We were very interested to read the report of the questionnaire survey on safety practices for oral chemotherapy at US cancer centres (Research, BMJ January 12th 2007 ) and surprised at the findings. In response to concerns expressed by members in response to the rapid growth in use of capecitabine (Xeloda), The British Oncology Pharmacy Association held two very well attended meetings in 2003 and subsequently published guidance on safe practice with oral chemotherapy in January 2004. This was supplemented by a statement on packaging of oral chemotherapy agents in July 2005. Both documents can be found at www.bopa- web.org/Publications.asp. Although anecdotal evidence has led us to believe that there is widespread awareness of our guidelines amongst oncology professionals in the NHS and that they have significantly influenced practice, we have not audited compliance with them and look forward to reading the results of the repeat survey which, we understand, Dr Weingart and colleagues now intend to carry out here. Competing interests: None declared