Share: 

We cannot tolerate cancer drug shortage

January 10, 2013

I am writing in response to recent news coverage of the continued prescription drug shortage crisis. As the executive director of the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, I have seen countless women benefit from life-saving chemotherapy drugs - and so I understand too well the dire situation that exists when these drugs go into shortage. If it's your loved one who receives a diagnosis of cancer, the least you'd want is for them to get the medication they need to give them every advantage at beating the disease.

 

Unfortunately, the drug shortage crisis we're currently facing means some of our mothers, fathers, sons and daughters don't have access to the treatment they need to survive. Rep. John Carney passed legislation last year that will make important progress toward stopping drug shortages. His bipartisan bill will help address the supply chain and manufacturing issues that are causing many of these shortages.

That said, even one shortage is too many. As the leading breast cancer resource in the state, DBCC advocates to continue to address the root causes of these shortages - other legislators should follow our congressman's lead and make this a priority.

 

The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition’s mission is to empower our community by raising awareness of breast health issues through outreach, education and support services, in order to facilitate early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

 

Victoria G. Cooke

Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition

  • A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.

    To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to newsroom@capegazette.com. Letters must be signed and include a telephone number and address for verification. Please keep letters to 500 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days. Letters restating information and opinions already offered by the same author will not be used. Letters must focus on issues of general, local concern, not personalities or specific businesses.

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter