Methotrexate Shortage. Our children's lives depend upon us.

Our children's lives depend on our voice 

 Because kids can't fight cancer alone!

I know this seems that it can not be true in North America but it is.   Heather and I had hoped that this news on the shortage of Methotrexate was media hype but it is real.

Quite literally Methotrexate saved Carmen's life and continues to keep her in remission.  It is the most significant Chemotherapy drug to fight Leukemia.

Since December, there has been a significant decline in the U.S. production of preservative-free Methotrexate (MTX). Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in particular, are dependent upon availability of this drug for effective treatment of their cancer. Currently, the cure rate for ALL is approaching 90%. Having access to preservative-free Methotrexate is essential to saving these children's lives.

As a result of the reduction in the availability of this drug, hospitals treating children with cancer are already beginning to ration it. They anticipate that it will be a matter of days to weeks when there will no longer be any available supply. 

American Childhood Cancer Organization is asking each of us to contact our Members of Congress (MOC). We're especially asking for a heroic number of calls from those who live in the states where the four manufacturing companies are located - i.e. Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Please impress upon your MOC's the urgency that they immediately contact the four companies currently manufacturing MTX in the U.S. and demand that they:

1) prioritize production of the preservative-free form of the drug and

2) work with the FDA to import preservative-free Methotrexate from Canada, Mexico and Europe.

The form of Methotrexate with the preservative has been know to cause paralysis in children.  It is injected into the cerebral spinal fluid where Leukemia often hides.

The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO)  is a member organization of the National Coalition for Cancer Research (NCCR), and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer. They work alongside the Children's Oncology Group (COG).....which is what Carmen's protocol is part of....... and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The following letters were sent to the four companies that manufacture preservative-free Methotrexate in the U.S. The four letters provide company contact information as well as content that can be used as a template letter for your Members of Congress.

Letters sent to the 4 Manufacturers of preservative-free MTX

Contact information for the 4 companies manufacturing drug.

More information on this issue can also be found at the following ACCO links:

Summary of America's Drug Shortage and A Crisis in Care by Dr. Michael Link

 

Please do what you can to spread the awareness of the drug shortage. Especially to people living in the states where the drug is made - Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Love to all of you.

Team White