When Helen Dyck felt her femur shatter as she walked to the washroom one evening in February 2023, she had no way of knowing it would mark the beginning of a life-altering journey. The Parksville resident had been treated for osteoporosis, but the sudden break revealed something much more serious: multiple myeloma — a blood cancer that affects bones and is often not curable.
Helen began treatment, determined to keep going. But in January 2025, her health journey took another unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She needed a mastectomy, and her myeloma treatment had to be paused while she healed. When treatment eventually resumed, it was no longer effective.
“I lost 30 pounds in two months,” Helen said. “I didn’t have the strength to get my legs into bed at night. My husband had to lift them for me so I could get comfortable.”
Then, on January 18, she became the first patient at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) to receive a new and highly specialized cancer treatment known as bispecific T cell engager therapy.
Dr. Daniel Ontko, a hematologist at NRGH, explained that bispecific medications work by identifying markers on cancer cells and directing the body’s own immune system to attack them. While not a cure, they can be very effective for some patients with advanced disease.
These treatments were first brought to Island Health in 2022 at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria through a partnership with BC Cancer. Recognizing how difficult travel can be for patients and families, Dr. Ontko partnered with Karyn Perry, Floor 1 oncology nurse and manager of the NRGH Cancer Care Clinic, and members of Island Health’s cancer strategy research team to bring bispecific treatments to Nanaimo.
“It just made sense,” Perry said. “If a patient needs treatment, that we find a way to provide it.” To prepare, internal medicine nurses at NRGH received education about cancer care and training on how to monitor patients for side effects. “Our inpatient staff have really thrived,” Perry said. “They’ve gained confidence in cancer care and built strong connections with our oncology team.”
Because reactions to bispecific therapy can be subtle and can happen quickly, careful monitoring is essential. Dr. Ontko said patients receive medication to prevent reactions before treatment begins, followed by frequent assessments throughout the week.
“There are three doses given over five days,” he explained. “The nursing care during that first week is critical.”
If all goes well, patients can return home by the end of the week and continue care as outpatients.
For Helen, the results have been remarkable.
“I can get into bed by myself now. I can even put my compression stockings on myself,” she said. “I can do meal prep myself… I have energy. I feel more like me rather than like the person who just wants to go to sleep and not wake up.”
While Helen’s cancer is not considered cured, Dr. Ontko said it is now undetectable in testing. Perry added that “this treatment adds quality of life. And it adds quantity of life.”
Bringing services and care closer to home are priorities for Island Health. For Helen, this made a profound difference for her and her family. “To be able to do this in Nanaimo was a gift,” she said. Her husband could visit regularly, and her daughter could support her without uprooting her life in Parksville.
“All of that matters,” Helen said. “If you’re anxious and afraid, it affects everything. This was a very positive experience.”
Since Helen’s treatment, a second patient has successfully completed bispecific therapy at NRGH, and Dr. Ontko has already identified a third patient who may benefit.
As for Helen, she’s focused on the future.
“I truly believe that if I was meant to leave this earth, I probably would have in February of 2023,” she said. “But I’m still here — so I still have things to do.”