The Bermuda Hospitals Board yesterday confirmed that there is a shortage of chemotherapy drug bendamustine — but assured patients that the delay in treatment will not affect their outcome.

According to a BHB spokeswoman, four patients have had their treatment postponed over the last five weeks because the drug, which is used to treat low-grade, non-aggressive lymphomas and low-grade leukaemia, has not been available.

She said that the BHB appreciates that the patients concerned may be anxious about not receiving chemotherapy in time and added that “the current delay will not impact our patients’ outcomes, as these particular conditions are slow growing in nature and are not immediately life-threatening”.

“It should be noted that the decision to delay rather than use alternative therapies in this first month was a clinical one, given the non-aggressive nature of the condition,” the spokeswoman said. She added that if the shortage continues, alternative therapies will be offered, but explained that two orders have been placed with different companies to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

“The decision to change rather than delay therapy depends on how long it will take to get the medicine on the island. This will be discussed with each individual patient,” the spokeswoman added.