Patients can now receive type of chemo outside hospital

The past year hasn't been an easy one for Gerald Billard and his family.

The 59-year-old Isle aux Morts man had open-heart surgery in March 2009 and almost a year to the day later was undergoing another surgery for colorectal cancer.

But being able to take his latest round of chemotherapy treatments at home is providing a bit of comfort.

Mr. Billard was the first person to participate in a new program at the LeGrow Heath Centre that allows patients who were once required to be admitted to hospital to receive treatment to choose to go home.

The specific type of chemotherapy used to treat colorectal cancers is administered through an IV over a 46-hour period.

That would have meant two nights in hospital every two weeks for Mr. Billard until he completes his eight rounds of chemotherapy. For some patients, it would mean six rounds, for some 12, for others treatment can continue indefinitely.

Now, Mr. Billard goes to LeGrow where a pharmacist prepares an infuser that looks like a small plastic water bottle. Once it's hooked up, he can leave and go about his regular routine.

Halfway through the treatment, a community health nurse drops by his home or calls to check on him. At the end of the two days, the nurse goes to his home and disconnects the infuser.

"It's a better environment for me at home," he said. He add the risk of picking up a viral or bacterial infection, especially when his immune system is low, is also less than if he were in hospital.

Stephanie Hulan agreed that's one of the benefits. Ms. Hulan is the regional home nursing coordinator with Western Health and organizes the new home treatment program.

She said being able to go home is a real benefit to many patients, especially those newly diagnosed, who can really use the support of friends and family. It also uses fewer hospital resources.

Ms. Hulan explained that patients must meet eligibility criteria to qualify for the program including having someone to be with them all the time during the treatment, as well as being medically stable.

She said patients have access to help at all times while taking the treatment, either through the community health nurses or LeGrow.

However, patients can still choose to remain in hospital if they're not comfortable going home, said Ms. Hulan.

Mr. Billard said he was happy to learn he could take his treatment at home, and so was his wife Neita.

He was admitted to LeGrow for the first treatment, as are all patients. Ms. Hulan said that's to ensure the patient experiences no complications with the chemotherapy and to teach them about the infuser and its use.

Mr. Billard said learning what to do wasn't difficult. His first home treatment started on May 19 and he said everything went well.

"It's a step in the right direction," he said.

Mr. Billard said being home allowed him the freedom to do what he wanted while taking his treatment. That meant a lot of rest and watching television, he said, but also getting outside in his yard and cooking when he felt like it.

"It's a lot different than in the hospital, I can tell you that," he said.

It also meant proudly hanging his Chicago Blackhawks hockey jersey in his front window to show support for his favourite team during the playoffs.

editor@gulfnews.ca