Health
Cancer centers are suffering major shortage of popular chemo drugs
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Common cancer drugs are running short due to ongoing supply chain issues, forcing doctors to make tough decisions about treating patients., a new survey shows
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) says 90% of cancer centers in the U.S. are affected by shortages of two main drugs.
Doctors say this isn’t the first chemo shortage they’ve dealt with, but it might be one of the toughest ones yet.
“Some of the facilities in the United States, we understand, actually have no Carboplatin or Cisplatin available,” said Dr. Robert W. Carlson, the CEO of the NCCN.
CARBOPLATIN, CISPLATIN DRUG SHORTAGES IMPACTING TREATMENT OF US CANCER PATIENTS: ‘UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION’
Carlson says Carboplatin and Cisplatin are two of the most common chemotherapy medications as they treat many types of cancer, like lung and testicular cancer.
But, right now, not every patient has easy access to them.
“I was worried, because I didn’t want this to be prolonged,” said Gail Lass, who is being treated for stage 2 lung cancer in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Lass needed Carboplatin, but her doctor didn’t have any and wasn’t sure if he’d be able to find it elsewhere. Eventually, her doctor arranged for her to get the chemo at a nearby hospital.
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“Usually, one of us can get the drug, but it’s just become more of a challenge,” said Dr. Justin Favaro, a Hematologist and Oncologist at Oncology Specialists of Charlotte.
For now, Favaro says the drugs are being given to people with stage 1, 2 or 3 cancer. That’s because treatment aims to cure the cancer in those stages. Stage 4 is when other treatment options are considered.
“In stage 4, patients where they’re not necessarily curable. A small change of one drug or one regimen to another wouldn’t necessarily shorten their lifespan,” Favaro said. It would just be not necessarily the ideal treatment that we would typically use.”
It’s estimated that Cisplatin and other similar platinum-based drugs are prescribed for an estimated 10% to 20% of all cancer patients, according to the National Cancer Institute.
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” Carlson predicted.
DRUG SHORTAGES IN CANCER, ASTHMA, TRANSPLANT, BACTERIAL INFECTION TREATMENTS
An NCCN survey of 27 U.S. cancer centers shows 93% have reported a shortage of Carboplatin, and 70% reported a shortage of Cisplatin.
“The current estimates are that up to 500,000 cancer patients per year could be affected by the shortage of these two agents,” Carlson said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently said it would work with a Chinese drugmaker to import Cisplatin to boost the supply for now.
“The FDA recognizes the potential impact that lack of availability of certain products may have on health care providers and patients,” the FDA said in a statement to Fox News.
“While the agency does not manufacturer drugs and cannot require a pharmaceutical company to make a drug, make more of a drug, or change the distribution of a drug, the public should rest assured the FDA is working closely with numerous manufacturers and others in the supply chain to understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce the impact of intermittent or reduced availability of certain products.”
Dr. Carlson says it’s tough to know when conditions will improve.
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Health
7 important health stories this week you simply can't miss
Every day of the week, Fox News Digital publishes a range of health and wellness pieces to keep you up-to-date on medical research, new medications, mental health trends, success stories and more.
In case you missed them, here are a few of the biggest health stories from the past week.
As always, you can see a full list of recent health pieces at http://www.foxnews/health.
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1. FDA tells COVID vaccine makers to update their fall shots
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that COVID vaccine manufacturers update their formulas for fall doses, in an attempt to target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant.
Dr. Marc Siegel shared insights on the risks as this variant grows more prominent. Click here to get the story.
2. Expert offers 7 tips to soothe sunburned skin
If not treated properly, sunburn can lead to severe skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer, experts warn.
Angela Rosoff, a San Francisco-based wellness and beauty expert, shared some proven remedies to treat sun-damaged skin. Click here to get the story.
3. Tiger mosquitoes blamed for spread of dengue fever
As dengue fever continues to spread throughout Europe, experts are naming an invasive mosquito species as the culprit.
CANCER NEARLY TOOK HIS LEG, BUT NEW JERSEY FATHER OF 6 WALKS AGAIN: ‘I SHOULDN’T BE HERE’
Infectious diseases experts weighed in on the level of risk and share prevention tips. Click here to get the story.
4. Certain exercises could reverse Alzheimer’s, expert says
In her new book, “Reversing Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Heather Sandison, a renowned expert in dementia care, offered specific recommendations for the types of exercise that can benefit patients living with the disease.
“Exercise benefits several of the root causes of neurological disease,” she wrote. Click here to get the story.
5. Experts bust sunscreen myths
Some claims on social media about sun safety have led to a major misconception that sunscreen could cause skin cancer.
Dermatologists debunk these potentially dangerous myths. Click here to get the story.
6. New Alzheimer’s drug gets thumbs-up from FDA advisory committee
Donanemab, designed to treat mild cognitive impairment and other symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease, was endorsed by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel.
Here’s what that could mean for patients. Click here to get the story.
7. FDA panel rejects MDMA-assisted therapies for PTSD
Many veterans’ hopes were dashed when an FDA advisory committee voted against the overall benefits of MDMA when used to treat PTSD.
Advocates and doctors discussed what this means for the future of psychedelic treatments. Click here to get the story.
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Better Than Ozempic? Doctors Say These Medications Are Better for Weight Loss Than the Popular Semaglutide
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