“Sometimes we have to look for completely different chemotherapy regimens that maybe were studied outside the U.S. that have similar efficacy and change things up. But it's absolutely not ideal.”

The shortage of cancer drugs is not going away, but it may be easing slightly, a new national survey suggests. Based on questions posed to 29 of its 33 member hospitals, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network said Thursday that 86% of those cancer centers are experiencing a shortage of at least one type of generic chemotherapy drug, down from 90% in May.