 |
|
|
|
February 24th, 2012
10:04 AM ET
Child cancer patient deals with drug shortageEditor's note: Owen McMasters, 12, was diagnosed with Acuta Lymphoblastic Leukemia in November 2011. His family has been dealing with the shortage of methotrexate, a drug that treats cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells. Between 2006 and 2010, drug shortages increased by more than 200%. Read more about these shortages, and what the FDA is doing to help, on The Chart. Learning that the enlarged lymph nodes I showed my mom meant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer, and not mono, was devastating. It meant that I would not be returning to school until at least next August. It meant I would spend unknown amounts of time in the hospital. It meant I would not be able to be around groups of people. (I have to limit which friends and family members I am around, since a simple cold for you could mean severe illness for me.) It meant my hair I loved fell out, leaving me with baby bird fuzz on my head. I underwent two operations in the first 36 hours and then went under anesthesia for either a spinal tap with chemotherapy, a bone marrow biopsy, or both, nearly every week. Because my platelets and white blood cell count are often critically low, I am unable to ride my bike, play any sports, wrestle with my brothers or do many of the things I like to do. My new friends are other kids with bald or fuzzy heads who are going through the same thing as me. I take many different kinds of chemotherapy drugs, at least once per week and sometimes many days per week. I have to get my blood drawn frequently. I have to get up early, go to the doctor’s office or the hospital, and spend many hours getting treatment. I have been in the hospital sometimes for up to 10 days in a row. I had a severe infection from my immune system being wiped out. I have to get radiation treatments in my brain. Sometimes the treatments don’t bother me too much; sometimes they make me tired, weak, nauseated and unable to eat for days. They make me cramp all over and swell. While none of this is any fun, I do what I have to do and deal with it in my own way. I joke with the doctors. I entertain my parents. Sometimes I use bad words and get away with it because I have cancer. But I do everything I am told to do because I am going to live and be cured of cancer. The doctors say I have a very good chance to be cured if I take all of the treatments, which last for three and a half years. Two weeks ago my main doctor told me I was doing better than he ever expected. He was honestly shocked with my latest bone marrow biopsy. But in the next minute he told my mom I would likely not be able to undergo my next phase of chemo. The next phase is high dose methotrexate. I would receive this drug all the time - through an IV in my spine. It is the most frequent drug and the high dose is evidently going to be hard. I was ready for it because it is also what will keep my cancer from returning. It is what will make me live. My doctor told me drug companies had stopped making methotrexate in the form I needed and that the shortage was so bad no one would be able to get it in the next few weeks unless something drastic changed. He said the shortage had been going on to some degree for two years, but that it was critical now. I knew it was critical - it was going to affect me and all the other kids in the clinic that day and all the kids in the U.S. who also have ALL. I asked if we could get it from other countries and was told it isn’t that easy. He also said that the shortage of chemotherapy drugs for kids with cancer was a constant problem and was not just with methotrexate. Six months ago there was a shortage of AraC, another drug I take frequently. That very day the clinic nurses asked me if I had decided what I wanted for my wish from the Make A Wish Foundation. The people from Make a Wish had visited me the last time I was in the hospital, but I was so sick I only talked to them briefly. I talked to my parents and told them I would feel bad asking for something to be bought for me but might consider something all the kids could enjoy at clinic or on the children’s oncology unit at Kosair Children’s Hospital. After I got home from clinic, we researched the methotrexate shortage and found that my doctor wasn’t exaggerating. I decided my wish would be to fix the shortage of chemotherapy drugs so that other kids could get the treatments that they need to be cured of cancer. I wanted to make the shortage of methotrexate known by everyone who could do something about it. I wanted the drug companies to share my goal of curing my cancer and cancer in lots of other kids by making these drugs, even though they are cheap and might not make as much money as some others. The FDA has said that methotrexate will be available for now. But this problem is not solved for good. A permanent solution to this problem must be found. I don’t care how the problem is solved, it just needs to be solved. I like to think that I helped to make a difference by sharing my story. Thanks to Dr. Gupta and others who have expressed an interest in helping my wish to come true. I plan to live. See Owen and his family and learn more about the shortage of critical cancer drugs on "Sanjay Gupta, M.D." on Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET. |
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
 |
|
|
|
Owen, you're story is amazing. I hope you don't mind that I quoted your article in a post my blog. My friend is running the Boston Marathon in April. In addition to finishing the race, her other goal is to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I thought writing about both your story and hers would be a good way to raise awareness. You're an inspiring human being. Keep doing the best you can. Remember, everyone is rooting for you!
All the best,
G.
Link to the post I quoted you in:
http://movingwgrace.blogspot.com/2012/02/plan-to-live.html
Yesterday was my birthday. How may I help Owen?
वन दन ज !बह त स ध व द आपक ज आपन इतन अच छ ल क स द य ह हम कर ब कर ब सभ ल क स पर गय कई प स ट स बह त पस आय पर इन द प स ट स क व श ष प रश स करन च ह ग "इन द र य न ग रहण - इर ष य एक घ तक म नस क व क र -Jealousy-A malignant caencr !" एवम " आ ख ,ज ब और क न पर पड त ल क ख लन क ....एक ग ज र श" स र थक और समज क सर क र स ज ड ल खन क ल य सभ ब ल गर स ध व द क प त र ह म र प स ट क यह श म ल करन क ल य बह त धन यव द !
Dear Owen,
I wish you all the best, I have seen you on CNN. You are wonderful boy and you have wonderful family. You can beat the cancer. I am myself breast cancer survivor and I know that battle with cancer is not always easy. But , you can do that, you are the WINNER.
All the best to you and your family,
Greetings from Macedonia
I wrote the post a couple of days ago and the aengda wasn't posted then. I'll update the post, but will you post announcements a bit earlier than 0-day in future, please?Readers can see from the link that several board members have stated on spi-general that they think there should be advice, but have any started getting it? That's not something ordinary members can do.I probably won't be at this meeting, due to attending after accepting an invitation sent to our local council.
This is an encouraging story and you are a very brave boy and a winner too. You have fought a fight many have failed and bravely embraced your condition. Cancer patients all over the world are often faced with different challenges but am grateful that you have shown them how to fight a good fight despite any challenge that may come along.
Thank you for providing such information. This is very generous of you providing such vital information which is very informative.http://www.livinglebanese.com/
I believe that is one of the so much important information for me. And i'm glad reading your article. But want to observation on some general issues, The site taste is perfect, the articles is in reality nice : D. Good job, cheers
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you really understand what you are speaking about! Bookmarked. Please also seek advice from my site =). We could have a hyperlink trade contract among us! Robbin Goal http://www.robinhoodchina.info
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you really recognise what you're speaking about! I'm impressed, I need to admit. Rarely do I encounter a site that's equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you've hit the nail on the top.
Jesus http://cultura.iteso.mx/solopc/wikka.php?wakka=AlternativesAboutjusthowTorepairTheCarHeadUnitInwhichwontFirstturnon
シャネルバッグ 買取価格 CHANEL お財布 CHANEL ビーサン グッチ 携帯ストラップ CHANEL マトラッセ シャネル バッグ 赤 シャネル 店舗 大阪 シャネル 長財布 人気 CHANEL ロングネックレス グッチ 財布 名古屋 シャネル ネックレス 定価 シャネル 新作 リップ CHANEL マトラッセ バッグ ユーロ 価格 グッチ バッグ 補修 シャネル 財布 ツイード シャネル 新作 バッグ 2012 CHANEL 新作 財布 2012 CHANEL リップ シャネル 財布 激安 gucci 露伴 バッグ For several锛?functioning gets a routine锛?a everyday regime. For 35 ages a group of fourteen customers have experienced similar ritual every last Boilermaker Sunday. And its that ritual delivers this elite group together. シャネル財布 キャビアスキン シャネル 高い シャネル公式hp 香港 gucci 財布 シャネル ニュートラベルライン トート コピー CHANEL ハイライト シャネル 背景 シャネルエスパドリーユコピー シャネル ソフトキャビアスキン トート gucci クラッチバッグ CHANEL ビーチサンダル gucci クラッチバッグ シャネル 財布 ユーロ CHANEL 長財布 マトラッセ シャネル バッグ 非売品 グッチ 財布 本物と偽物の見分け方 CHANEL公式サイト シャネル財布スーパーコピー CHANEL がま口 グッチ 財布 男女兼用
シャネル 新作 ピアス http://ainanegaard.com/images/chanel35.html
Hello there, I think it really is a wonderful publish.
Moncler Outlet Store http://snggroups.com/moncler-outlet-store.html
スーパーコピー ルイヴィトン 激安 6畳 http://www.brandiwc.com/brand-28-copy-0.html
スーパーコピー ブランド トリーバーチ dfs http://www.brandiwc.com/brand-62-copy-0.html
N級品シャネルスーパーコピー激安通販信頼と安価スーパーコピーブランド
弊社はサイトで一番大きいブランドコピー品販売ショップです。
ブランドコピー商品通販品例えばコピーブランド財布、ブランドコピー腕時計、ブランドコピーバッグが揃っております。
またはスーパーコピーのブランドコピー通販しますブランドコピー見分け方も見分けできません。
ルイヴィトンスーパーブランドコピー品、コピーブランド時計、ブランドコピーS級品をブランドコピー販売します。
いまN級品のヴィトンブランドコピー通販します。
ロレックス レディース 定価 500 http://www.brandiwc.com/brand-63-copy-0.html