FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 17, 2023

THYMIC CARCINOMA CENTER CALLS FOR ACTION AMID NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF CRITICAL CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS CARBOPLATIN AND CISPLATIN

OLATHE, KANSAS – The Thymic Carcinoma Center (TCC), an organization dedicated to supporting those battling thymic carcinoma, is deeply concerned about the nationwide shortage of the platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, carboplatin and cisplatin. The shortage has impacted cancer treatment centers across the United States and has had a devastating impact on patients with thymic carcinoma, a rare and extremely aggressive form of cancer.

One of the patients in our support group, a 33-year-old man whose wife is 9 months pregnant, had his first carboplatin/Taxol treatment on May 11. On May 31, he was scheduled for his second dose at a hospital in California, but doctors told him the carboplatin supply had depleted the day before. The Thymic Carcinoma Center is calling for action from government officials, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers to address this critical public health crisis.

Carboplatin and Cisplatin are the top, first-line chemotherapies suggested for treating thymic cancer. Without access to these drugs, patients are at a significant disadvantage and face a significantly diminished chance of survival. The Thymic Carcinoma Center urges all stakeholders to prioritize the needs of patients and ensure that they have access to the treatments they need to survive.

“The shortage of carboplatin and cisplatin has left our patients and their families in a state of distress and uncertainty,” said Michael Delaney, Executive Director of the Thymic Carcinoma Center. “We cannot afford to delay action, as the consequences of this shortage can be catastrophic for patients like our member and his family. As an organization dedicated to patient education and advocacy, we call on all stakeholders to prioritize the needs of our patients and ensure that they have access to the treatments they need to survive.”

The Thymic Carcinoma Center has been closely monitoring the nationwide shortage and will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. In the meantime, the organization encourages patients and their families to reach out to their healthcare providers for guidance and support.

For more information about thymic carcinoma and the work of the Thymic Carcinoma Center, visit thymiccarcinoma.org.