Horizon Health launches first at-home lung cancer treatment in New Brunswick

New Brunswick is launching the first-ever at-home lung cancer treatment program.

The Horizon Health Network has launched Canada’s first at-home cancer treatment in New Brunswick.

The project, created in collaboration with Horizon, Roche Canada, the New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program and ResearchNB, allows patients diagnosed with certain types of lung cancer to receive Health Canada-authorized under-the-skin cancer immunotherapy at home.

The first treatment in this program happened in New Brunswick last March.

“This trial marks a turning point in lung cancer care—bringing treatment from the hospital to patients’ homes, where they are most comfortable,” said Dr. Abdelsalam, principal investigator of the initiative, in a news release. “We are proud to lead this Canadian-first trial from New Brunswick, showing that innovation in health care can start right here at home, improving the quality of care for New Brunswickers.”

The news release notes patients previously had to travel to infusion centres for intravenous cancer treatments, typically spending at least 30-to-60 minutes per visit. The new program reduces treatment time to roughly seven minutes.

“The reality is, if patients must leave their communities, take time off work, arrange childcare or organize transportation, it disrupts their lives significantly,” said Jennifer Sheils, Horizon’s vice-president of strategy, transformation and chief innovation officer. “They occupy IV therapy hospital chairs, require nursing and pharmacy resources and often face the challenge of travelling home while feeling unwell. These impacts extend beyond the treatment day and can affect their overall well-being and financial stability.”

The program is expected to reduce pressure on infusion clinics, increase treatment capacity and potentially lower the overall costs per patient.

Anyone interested in participating in the study can fill out a research application form on the Horizon website.

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