Drug Shortage Causing Decreased Survival Rates for Cancer Patients

• The shortage of cancer drugs in the US has left patients like Tony Shepard uncertain about their treatment.
• “It’s a frightening situation that you don’t want to dwell on,” Shepard expressed to The New York Times.
• Meanwhile, doctors are grappling with the challenge of rationing the drugs to those with the best chances of survival.

For several months, the United States has been grappling with a significant shortage of necessary cancer treatment drugs. This has led to uncertainty for patients like Tony Shepard, whose chance of a cure has dropped from 88% to 45%, as reported by The New York Times.

Shepard, in an interview with The Times, mentioned that he was fortunate to receive the required drugs for two out of his seven scheduled treatments. However, he referred to the process as a game of chance, unsure of when his next dose would be available. Without further treatment, Shepard’s doctors may have to resort to removing his vocal cords.

Shepard expressed his concerns, stating, “It’s a frightening reality that you’d rather not think about, but it’s something you can’t ignore.”

In an effort to address the shortage, oncologists nationwide are attempting to distribute and allocate the drugs to those with the highest chances of being cured, according to The Times.

Dr. Prasanthi Ganesa, the medical director of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, empathized with the patients’ situation, stating, “I can imagine a patient listening to this and saying, ‘You know, I am trying to live longer, that is my priority. So I need that drug, doc.’ We feel really helpless.”

As per the Federal Drug and Food Administration, there is a shortage of 14 drugs, affecting doctors in 40 states, as reported by NBC News.

The shortage is primarily attributed to quality control issues at an Intas Pharmaceuticals factory in India, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Oncologists mentioned to The Times that while the FDA is taking steps to address the shortage and alternative treatment options exist, the medications in short supply are still the most effective by a significant margin.

This shortage of drugs will unfortunately lead to fatalities, as stated by Dr. Ravi Rao in The Times. He asserted, “There’s no way around it. You cannot remove these life-saving drugs and not expect negative outcomes.”