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As Life-Saving Childhood Cancer Drugs Run Short, Patients and Doctors Face Impossible Choices - NBC 10 Philadelphia
While a shortage of vincristine has grabbed headlines, doctors say other drugs have been in short supply too. And they fear the effects on patients.
Nurses and doctor swarmed into the young patient's room, grabbing and pulling as they worked. Out came the IV. In came epinephrine and hydrocortisone to keep his heart pumping.
The drug in Eliot Hayes' IV was supposed to help cure his cancer. But in this moment, it was killing him.
====================================================
He had just suffered anaphylactic shock as a result of an allergic reaction to one drug used to treat his B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. It was clear he needed another option.
Another drug, Erwinaze, was the answer -- if only the hospital could find enough of it to treat him.
The shortage of critical anti-cancer drugs has reached epidemic proportions as some makers stop production as a 'business decision' & others have technical problems during production.
As a side note, if you find out you have cancer, the Philadelphia area is one of the best places to get your disease fixed. We see the hospitals' ads every night on area TV.
While a shortage of vincristine has grabbed headlines, doctors say other drugs have been in short supply too. And they fear the effects on patients.
Nurses and doctor swarmed into the young patient's room, grabbing and pulling as they worked. Out came the IV. In came epinephrine and hydrocortisone to keep his heart pumping.
The drug in Eliot Hayes' IV was supposed to help cure his cancer. But in this moment, it was killing him.
====================================================
He had just suffered anaphylactic shock as a result of an allergic reaction to one drug used to treat his B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. It was clear he needed another option.
Another drug, Erwinaze, was the answer -- if only the hospital could find enough of it to treat him.
The shortage of critical anti-cancer drugs has reached epidemic proportions as some makers stop production as a 'business decision' & others have technical problems during production.
As a side note, if you find out you have cancer, the Philadelphia area is one of the best places to get your disease fixed. We see the hospitals' ads every night on area TV.