Photo: Catherine Bond-Mills (left) and Katie Thede (right) are Oral Chemotherapy Pharmacists providing support to patients with complex chemotherapy regimens at LHSC's Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre.
April 10, 2026
Supporting patients who are receiving complex chemotherapy medication regimens, such as those taking Venetoclax for haematological cancers, is the focus of Catherine Bond-Mills and Katie Thede, the two oral chemotherapy pharmacists working at London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre Pharmacy.
In March 2025, LHSC Pharmacies created these new positions using the revenue from its retail locations.
For Corrine Lockhart, a patient at the Verspeeten, the support she has received from Bond-Mills and Thede has been comforting.
Lockhart’s recent health-care journey began in November last year when she awoke with swollen legs. After several weeks of testing, she was told her leukemia had returned and was impacting her kidneys; she needed dialysis and chemotherapy. It was during her first chemotherapy session that Bond-Mills visited with her to discuss her medications.
“I’ve had leukemia for 15 years and my kidneys suddenly stopped working in November,” explains Lockhart. “I had to start chemo right away. While I was having IV chemotherapy the first time, Catherine introduced herself and explained how I was starting the oral tablets.”
With frequent blood tests and various medications, Bond-Mills and Thede help guide patients through their treatment plans.
“Being diagnosed with cancer is overwhelming enough but to also have the influx of medications associated with it can be daunting,” says Thede. “Not only do patients suddenly have a number of medications, but each medication can be on a different, intermittent schedule.”
Bond-Mills and Thede provide patients with a calendar outlining their medication schedule, including pictures of their medications and walk through the instructions and medications with the patients. Many patients have medications that are timed around bloodwork and IV therapy.
By supporting patients on specific medications, such as Venetoclax, they are also able to provide follow-up support and ensure the bloodwork is completed. For Bond-Mills and Thede, this work is further enhanced by the opportunity to support the patients, one-on-one.
“This new role is really important, and the connections are so rewarding,” says Bond-Mills. “We are able to help patients, especially those on these extremely complex treatments, achieve optimal outcomes with the therapy that has been prescribed.”
For Lockhart, it still goes back to that initial meeting, and the care Bond-Mills continues to provide.
“She came to the bed and explained everything,” says Lockhart. “I would be lost without her!”