First, their shipments of carboplatin typically used to treat breast, ovarian and many other cancers have been delayed. They were able to switch some patients to cisplatin, another platinum-based drug that is just as effective but may have more side effects. Hence, their cisplatin shipments stopped arriving on time. To hold dwindling supplies longer, doctors have begun rounding patient doses up to 10 percent within professional guidelines and have begun preparing for the need to take more drastic action if shortages persist. It’s part of a nationwide shortage of more…
Read MoreTag: forced
US doctors forced to ration as cancer drug shortages hit nationwide
Toni Dezomits had to change her ovarian cancer treatment plan due to a shortage of chemotherapy drugs Toni Dezomits, a 55-year-old retired law enforcement officer, is battling a recurrence of her stage 4 ovarian cancer. She had already undergone several rounds of chemotherapy when her doctor told her he had more bad news. Just a day before her third round of treatment last month, Ms. Dezomits was told there was a nationwide shortage of the generic chemotherapy drug, carboplatin, one of three drugs she was due to receive. Forced to…
Read More