Survey of Oncologists about Shortages of Cancer Drugs

In this survey of oncologists, most reported that they were unable to prescribe a preferred cancer drug at least once over the previous 6 months because of a drug shortage. Some oncologists had to delay treatment or make substitutions, often with more expensive drugs.To the Editor: It is becoming increasingly difficult for patients with cancer to receive the lifesaving treatments they need. Generic chemotherapy agents that are routinely used for the curative treatment of common and aggressive cancers have been vulnerable to shortages in the United States since 2006.(1) One retrospective analysis confirmed that drug substitutions forced by shortages resulted in higher relapse rates among children with lymphoma who could have been cured.(2) The problem of shortages of cancer drugs is complex, and some factors will take years to resolve.(3) Despite the persistence and serious nature of the problem, empirical data are lacking ...