LITTLE ROCK, AR (KTHV) -- Across the U.S., more and more children are diagnosed with cancer every day. But treating this disease is getting more difficult as a drug shortage plagues our hospitals. Here in Arkansas, some hospitals are feeling the effects.
Having a sick child can be troublesome enough for any parent. But if it's a serious diagnosis like cancer, the need to protect their child becomes even stronger.
"Our focus has been really trying to find and keep those particular drugs that would make a difference in the way that we are able to care for kid's needs," says David Berry, Senior Vice President and COO for Arkansas Children's Hospital.
Berry says hospitals are finding it more difficult to access several children's cancer medications.
"We've had one circumstance where the FDA allowed us to order a drug from out of this country. And they approved it for, so that a patient could continue their therapy," Berry adds.
Methotrexate , a crucial cancer drug, is among those in short supply. It's a key treatment for a common childhood cancer known as acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL. Here at Arkansas Children's Hospital, they say they have at least enough in supply to last them a couple of months.
"To date, we've not had to change a child's therapy based on the shortage," Berry adds.
Doctors say drugs like methotrexate can cure nearly 90% of the roughly 3,500 American children and teens diagnosed with cancer each year.
But Dr. Larry Mendelsohn, an oncologist with CARTI, says changing those medications during treatment hurts the patient.
"We have to alter chemo regimens, make decisions based on those reasons instead of getting to choose whatever drug we want. We have to choose different drugs, even interrupting successful treatment because suddenly there is no drug," Mendelsohn explains.
Mendelsohn says the cost of manufacturing continues to rise, impacting the cost of the drug for the patient.
"The problem for the patient is they're still too expensive to pay out of their own pocket even if they could," Mendelsohn says.
David Berry with ACH says currently they have to staff two employees every day in the pharmacy to look after this problem. These employees track down supplies as they become available for the hospital to use.
Today's THV contacted several other hospitals in central Arkansas. A UAMS spokesperson tells us, so far, they have been able to maintain their cancer drug supply, too.