The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) is urging anyone who is concerned about a chemotherapy drug recall, to contact its helpline for advice.

Last week, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) announced a precautionary recall of a number of chemotherapy medicines in Ireland.

It said that while there was no evidence to suggest any issues with the medicines recalled, any patients who had received the products had been contacted by their hospitals, informed of the situation and offered a medical appointment as a precautionary measure.

"The implicated products, manufactured by Fannin Compounding Limited (FCL), are mainly patient specific therapies produced to order for both public and private hospitals. The HPRA is overseeing the recall and is continuing to investigate this incident and evaluate the manufacturer's onsite processes. The equipment used in the manufacture of these products has been taken out of use pending completion of the investigation," the HPRA said.

The issue was identified following the use of a test product, which is used by the manufacturers to aid in the detection of the potential presence of contamination. However, this test product is not a medicine and is not given to patients.

A contaminant was found in a single unit of test product. This was subsequently identified and ‘this information has been communicated to the hospitals concerned so that prescribers can choose the best treatment in the event of any patient presenting with infection'.

The ICS said that anything that has an adverse effect on cancer patients and causes anxiety for them and their families ‘is of paramount concern to the society'.

"The society is in touch with the HSE and is continuing to monitor the situation closely. If anyone is experiencing anxiety as a result of this, they can contact the ICS's Cancer Nurseline on freephone 1800 200 700 to speak to a nurse who can offer information and support," it said.