The United States experienced medication shortages, including ADHD drugs and chemotherapy drugs for cancer, due to pharmaceutical companies prioritizing short-term profit over production.

Authorities suggested addressing the medication shortage crisis by monitoring the supply chain.

The main cause of medication shortages, according to experts, is pharmaceutical companies' focus on short-term profit, which disrupts the balance between drug production and demand.

Medication shortages are caused by multiple factors, including raw material shortages, manufacturing issues, and industry consolidations, affecting the global supply chain.

"Medication shortages in Taiwan affected various drugs, including muscle relaxants, compound antibiotics, anti-fever pain tablets, blood pressure drugs, and blood lipid-lowering drugs, with reported shortages occurring between 2021 and 2022."

Sterile injectable generic drugs, including cancer chemotherapy and emergency drugs, are highlighted as being in short supply.

The reported shortage in Taiwan includes medications such as amoxicillin, acetaminophen, magnesium oxide, and ibuprofen, with a total of 131 medicines out of stock.

Cancer medications, including cisplatin and carboplatin used for treating lung, breast, prostate, and gynecologic cancers, are among those affected by shortages.

The shortage of medications is partly due to restrictions on the supply of generic drugs, which limits their supply price and leads to low investment returns in new drugs.

Medication shortages are primarily caused by manufacturing and quality issues, including supply chain disruptions and downtime, with demand also being a contributing factor.

"Ireland is facing a paracetamol shortage, particularly for some prescription products, but other suppliers have stock available."

Carboplatin and cisplatin were the chemotherapy medications in short supply in US cancer centers, with 93% and 70% of treatment centers reporting shortages, respectively.

The United States experienced medication shortages, including ADHD drugs and chemotherapy drugs for cancer, due to pharmaceutical companies prioritizing short-term profit over production.

Title:

Content: International
International News
Dependent on foreign raw materials fluctuate, big pharmaceutical companies chase short-term profit loss production
The shortage of ADHD drugs is just the tip of the iceberg of the current drug shortage in the United States. According to the FDA, more than 135 drugs are in short supply, including chemotherapy drugs for cancer.
A survey released by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) in early August showed that one-third of the 1,100 hospitals surveyed had no prescription, delayed or reduced prescriptions due to drug shortages to meet the supply window.
Expert analysis, pharmaceutical companies to pursue short-term profit first business model, so that the production of life-saving drugs and demand out of line, drug shortage problem is difficult to improve.
Experts urge pharmaceutical companies to face social responsibility
Rita Numerof, a medical industry consultant, wrote in Forbes magazine that in order to reduce costs, US pharmaceutical companies have long relied on foreign suppliers such as China, India and Italy to import raw materials for the production of drugs, which is prone to fluctuations in supply. They are looking to develop drugs that are more likely to be used for long-term diseases.
Teva, a manufacturer of ADHD drugs and the world ’ s largest generic drug manufacturer, announced earlier that it would reduce the production of some generic drugs and focus on more profitable products. Rumelove warned that if pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to address their social responsibilities and strengthen supply risk management, public trust in the pharmaceutical industry will continue to weaken, and ultimately public health and safety will pay a heavy price.
Focus on the organization to accelerate the use of new generic drugs to increase production incentives
The American Association for Access to Medicines (AAM) released a report last month, saying that because of restrictions on the supply of generic drugs, the supply price of generic drugs is limited, and the return of investment in new drugs is not high. The situation.
(Forbes / DrugTopics)
(Global Hot Talk)
Related Words: Adderall Drug Shortage Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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Authorities suggested addressing the medication shortage crisis by monitoring the supply chain.

Title:

Content: US supply chain crisis continues, FDA points to 111 drug shortages
Global Social Hotspot 16: 35 2021 / 12 / 05
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The supply chain crisis in the United States continues, and many goods are facing shortages.
The US media said that the US pharmacies have a number of critical prescription drugs in stock. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pointed out that about 111 drugs are out of stock in the United States. The FDA stressed that it will continue to take measures to monitor the supply chain.
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The Federal Reserve warned on Wednesday that large parts of the United States had begun to be affected by supply chain disruptions and labor shortages last month.
According to the FDA website, 111 drugs are out of stock in the United States, including the heart disease drug digoxin injection, the chemical drug Dacarbazine and some antibiotics.
The authorities say there are many reasons for the shortage, including production problems, quality problems, drugs and even the suspension of production.
According to the FDA, about 80% of the manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients are located overseas, and the manufacturers have provided the FDA with most of the drug shortage information.
The Administration will also work closely with these manufacturers to address the drug shortage.
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Long Island Newspaper Newsday quoted Tom D'Angelo, president of the New York State Association of Pharmacists, as saying the shipping of a large number of medicines, including those for common blood pressure and for the treatment of colds and flu, was blocked.
Because of supply chain problems, the owner of a New York drugstore said there were fewer brands for some drugs, including Ibuprofen.
The National Association of Community Pharmacists (NCPA) released a survey last month that found that most non-chain pharmacies are struggling to fill employee vacancies and cope with supply chain disruptions.
Sixty percent of pharmacies surveyed said they were dealing with supply chain disruptions, and nearly 70 percent said it was difficult to fill staff vacancies.
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The main cause of medication shortages, according to experts, is pharmaceutical companies' focus on short-term profit, which disrupts the balance between drug production and demand.

Medication shortages are caused by multiple factors, including raw material shortages, manufacturing issues, and industry consolidations, affecting the global supply chain.

Title:

Content: Ireland has been suffering a paracetamol shortage as cases of Covid-19 and the winter flu in the country soared over the festive and new year period.

The revelation was made by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly after his department received notification of a supply issue from the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

It is understood the shortage impacted some prescription paracetamol products.

Read More:Irish people complain of ‘worst ever’ winter bug sweeping country that feels like Covid but isn’t

Two suppliers affected have stated that resupply will be sometime in January 2023.

However, there are other prescription paracetamol suppliers with some stock available on the shelves.

Paracetamol is one of the medicines used most often in Ireland and especially for the flu, aches and pain.

But Mr Donnelly pointed out that there are multiple forms of the drug with different strengths and brands available from various sources.

He said: "In the event that there are some supply issues for individual medicines, alternative options such as alternative strengths and brands, generic medicines will usually be available to ensure continuity of treatment.

"In some cases where the medicine initially prescribed for the patient is unavailable, patients may be switched to a suitable therapeutic alternative following appropriate consultation with a healthcare professional."

The Health Minister said medicine shortages have been increasingly prevalent worldwide over the past decade. The causes of such shortages are multifactorial including shortage of raw materials, manufacturing difficulties and industry consolidations.

He stated: "Medicine shortages can originate at any point in the supply chain. They can involve and impact many stakeholders in different ways as the supply models and clinical use of therapies can vary across national health systems.

"Management of medicines shortages necessitates a multi-faceted, multi stakeholder response to ensure patient safety , continuity of care and protection of public health.

"Patients or their carers who have any concerns in relation to temporary alternative products provided because of medical shortages are advised to speak with their pharmacist or other healthcare [professionals] involved in their care."

Mr Donnelly was responding to a number of written Dail questions on the shortage of medicines.

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"Medication shortages in Taiwan affected various drugs, including muscle relaxants, compound antibiotics, anti-fever pain tablets, blood pressure drugs, and blood lipid-lowering drugs, with reported shortages occurring between 2021 and 2022."

Title:

Content: The Kuomintang group calls on Chen Chien-jen to take over the government's national security crisis
REPORTER WENG Tzu-kun / Taipei Report
The shortage of drugs in the country continues to burn, the Kuomintang Legislative Yuan group today (1) a press conference called on the Tsai government, do not just want to vote all day, more concerned about the people's health rights, if the Minister of Health and Welfare Xue Ruiyuan, the Food and Drug Administration Director Wu Xiumei do not do well, it will be cut off.
The KMT further demanded that the "Drug Deficiency Monitoring Center" be raised to the level of the Executive Yuan, and called on Premier Chen Jianren to take over the management and treat it as a national security level issue.
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The Kuomintang group today opened a "shortage of drugs! shortage of drugs! When?" press conference, the general convenor Zeng Mingzong said that the shortage of drugs is a structural problem, health insurance to slash the price of drugs, so that the shortage of drugs crisis expanded, local pharmaceutical companies are more reluctant to produce low-cost drugs.
And some people complained, ran 10 drug bureaus did not receive drugs, beat the table to scolding, so that the community pharmacist pressure is great.
Zeng Mingzong pointed out that, for example, muscle relaxants reported a shortage of drugs on March 8, 2021, compound antibiotics, anti-fever pain tablets reported a shortage of drugs on June 6, 2022, blood pressure drugs reported a shortage of drugs on August 25, 2022, blood lipid-lowering drugs reported a shortage of drugs on August 26, 2022. In addition to the election, Tsai's government also cares about the health of the nation's people.
Zeng Mingzong said that the Kuomintang group humbly asked the Tsai government, the current lack of eggs, water, and medicine in the country, the people are asking the government what is wrong? Impairment! Failure! Please the government to come up with a specific plan to solve the problem of shortage of drugs, and ensure the basic health rights of 23 million people.
Hsieh Ying-yi, secretary-general, says that recent shortages of amoxicillin, acetaminophen, magnesium oxide, and ibuprofen in primary pharmacies and clinics have revealed that there are 131 medicines out of stock in Taiwan.
She stressed that in order to solve the problem of drug shortage, the community pharmacy has also set up a "mutual aid association" to find drugs in the way of drug exchange.
He bluntly said that this is a serious national security problem, will it make the burden of health care more heavy?
For a long time, the total amount of health insurance system has been driving down drug prices, but international pharmaceutical companies are facing a global shortage of goods, and will not give priority to imports to Taiwan.
When the National Health Insurance Administration wants to solve the unreasonable drug price difference, does it also solve the problem of drug prices that do not meet the cost?
Xie Yifeng also pointed out that on February 11, Xue Ruiyuan urgently convened a meeting on shortage of drugs, and resolved to persuade drug manufacturers to increase production capacity. If it is not possible to increase production capacity, then strengthen the allocation of hospitals and clinics to pharmacies to solve the problem of shortage of drugs.
How does the Ministry of Health and Welfare assist domestic pharmaceutical companies in obtaining raw materials and mass-producing pharmaceutical products?
Not at all.
Shouldn ’ t the Ministry of Health and Welfare convene meetings across ministries, industries, and pharmaceuticals to coordinate and solve problems?
Hsieh Yi-hung lambasted that after the meeting of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, nothing had been done, and such a meeting would not be held.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare will increase the burden of health insurance to 120 million yuan on April 1, which is expected to affect 1.17 million people.
Please ask Chen Chien-jen and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in the special budget after the epidemic, to allocate 20 billion yuan for health insurance, why do you need to increase part of the burden?
The Ministry of Health and Welfare should first solve the problem of lack of medicines, and do not want to spend money from the pockets of the people.
On March 29, 2019, Wu Xiumei, who is responsible for managing the national drug administration department, held a meeting on “Drug Shortage ”. The results of the expert meeting on the evaluation of the operation and follow-up mechanism of the meeting were only based on the meeting and the meeting was postponed, and the decisions made after the meeting were not implemented.
"Taiwan's lack of medicine is a problem of management." Lai Shibao pointed out that the Ministry of Health and Welfare has constantly justified itself with problems such as rising raw materials and the Russian-Ukrainian war, but the whole world is affected, and Taiwan alone has a shortage of medicine.
In 1999, the US FDA established a “Drug Deficiency Monitoring Center ”, which stipulates that any drug that is less than 6 months in stock must be monitored and taken countermeasures.
Lai Shih-pao points out that the pharmaceutical and medical sectors in Taiwan have long called on the government to do the same.
Lai Shih-pao also suggested that Chen Chien-jen, the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) plans to slash the health insurance drug budget by NT $8.1 billion. Please ask the so-called warm and tenacious cabinet to start caring for humanity and solve the problem of shortage of drugs as soon as possible.
In 2016, Tsai Ying-ying told pharmacists at the All-Union Congress of Pharmacists that it was necessary to make medicines available to the people and replace them with social medicines in 2018. The result was still a shortage of drugs.
Yang Qiong said that magnesium oxide mainly treats gastric and esophageal reflux and constipation, is a common chronic prescription drug. Patients need to use drugs every day. Does the government know? In addition, the first-line commonly used antibiotics Ammonicillin and acetaminophen painkillers are lacking, which increases the risk of physical collapse of first-line medical care.
The government does not know what the problem is, and even the drugs have to go back to the original "drug-for-drugs" era, the "drug-for-drugs monitoring center" must be raised to the level of the Executive Yuan, immediately inventory 131 drug categories, immediately replenish, strengthen the monitoring mechanism, so that the people really have drugs available.
Dr. Shen Caiying, spokesman of the Taiwan Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management Association, said with emotion that Tsai Ing-wen had said that the society has drugs available, and the people will use drugs, which of course is also the responsibility of pharmacists.
During the epidemic, the Ministry of Health and Welfare relied heavily on community pharmacies to issue masks and rapid screening to take on the frontline public health mission, but the Ministry of Health and Welfare seemed indifferent to the serious problem of drug shortage.
Shen Caiying questioned the government, according to Article 15 of the "National Health Insurance Drug Price Adjustment Operation Measures", the directive drug is not allowed to have a floor price, but the Director of Health Insurance Shi Chongliang publicly stated that the directive drug should be set a floor price to solve the problem of drug shortage.
Shen Caiying said that for every US dollar used in the United States on the instructions, it can save 6 to 7 US dollars for health insurance, which can save 10.2 billion US dollars a year.
Shen Caiying suggested that the government, to solve the problem of shortage of drugs, please administer according to law, instruct that drugs should not be paid, cancel the daily drug charge, and pay.
The drug shortage center must combine relevant professional groups, patient groups, and pharmaceutical industry to jointly discuss the problem of drug shortage.
In addition, one of the four vice presidents of the Executive Yuan ’ s Commission for Sustainable Development is Minister Weifu. I wonder if the Minister of Weifu has told the Executive Yuan that there is a serious shortage of drugs?
Or do you want the community pharmacy to suffer silently?
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Sterile injectable generic drugs, including cancer chemotherapy and emergency drugs, are highlighted as being in short supply.

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Content: General Supervision
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An Unexpected Catastrophe in the World ’ s Largest Country: The Complete Story of U.S. Drug Shortages
The deficit is at a record level.
According to data from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service, organizations began tracking drug shortages for the first time in 2001. Steady since 2021 – now reaching a record high of 323 drugs in the first three months of 2024.
Paul Abramowitz, CEO of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, wrote in a blog post on Thursday: “It ’ s been a long time to end drug shortages, ” and wrote:“ All drug classes are vulnerable to shortages, some of the most worrisome shortages include sterile injectable generic drugs, including cancer chemotherapy drugs and emergency drugs stored in hospital vans and procedural areas. It is dangerous for doctors and patients. ”
In addition to the 32 chemotherapy drugs that are deficient, the five categories of drugs with the greatest deficiency include central nervous system stimulants, antimicrobials, hormonal agents, and intravenous fluids. [1] The Drug Deficiency Database maintained by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the University of Utah is based on voluntary reports from practitioners, patients, and others that have been confirmed by manufacturers. The U.S. drug is in short supply, because it captures broader effects on service providers and patients.
The crisis has lasted a year and a half.
More than half of the treatment shortages have lasted for more than two years, according to an analysis by health consultancy IQVIA, and the average shortage affects at least half a million patients, many of them elderly, according to the US Office of Health and Human Services under the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, which shared its analysis with Congress in May.
Growing demand can play a role in drug shortages, as with the recent shortage of weight-loss drugs, but often manufacturing and quality problems, such as supply chain gaps and downtime, are the root cause. And varied.
But the American Society of Health System Pharmacists has “serious concerns ” about parts of this proposal, especially financial sanctions imposed on hospitals that lack the resources to comply with the recommendations, Abramowitz wrote:“ We all know that managing shortages is not enough and is not a sustainable solution to the worsening crisis, and there is still a lot of work to be done at the federal level to fix the root causes of drug shortages. ”
Why Shortage Occurs
Shortages can be caused by high demand, as with the recent shortage of weight-loss drugs, but this is not usually the main problem.
The FDA also blames manufacturing and quality problems, supply chain gaps, and downtime, and Dr. Emily Tucker, a drug shortage expert and an assistant professor of industrial engineering at Clemson University, says that when there is an indication of shortages, large health systems often also proactively place large orders, adding to the system ’ s stress.
“I don ’ t blame anyone.
“When I talk to all the stakeholders – whether it ’ s wholesalers, manufacturers, or the government – everyone wants this problem to end, ” she said.
Lack of transparency
Dr. Julie Grallo, chief medical officer and executive vice president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, told the House Committee earlier that the shortage puts providers in a terrible position: “The drug shortage crisis is forcing providers to make impossible choices, and it is also hindering the development of new drugs. Health drugs are purchased only on a price basis, and manufacturers do not have to disclose the source of their acquisition of the ingredients.
The shortage of this generic chemical drug came due to the closure of one factory in India that manufactures the active ingredient after a surprise FDA inspection found “significant quality issues, ” says Jarallo:“ We didn ’ t know, and there was no transparency regarding the company ’ s supply of the majority of active pharmaceutical ingredients to all manufacturers across the board.
Knowing this in advance, we could have responded much faster, ” Dr. Steven Schundlemeyer, director of the PRIME Institute of the University of Minnesota School of Pharmacy, which focuses on economic and management issues, told the committee that as with defense contractors in the United States, New Zealand requires manufacturers to disclose their suppliers, and that information is required.
Easily accessible in the database.
Related Topics

The reported shortage in Taiwan includes medications such as amoxicillin, acetaminophen, magnesium oxide, and ibuprofen, with a total of 131 medicines out of stock.

Cancer medications, including cisplatin and carboplatin used for treating lung, breast, prostate, and gynecologic cancers, are among those affected by shortages.

Title:

Content: As drug shortage list grows, many hospitals face tough decisions on rationing care

More than half of hospital pharmacists are reporting a critical shortage of chemotherapy drugs and nearly all are reporting overall medicine supply gaps as prescription drug shortages near an all time high, according to a new survey.

Hospital pharmacists said drug shortages have forced 1 in 3 health systems to delay, cancel or ration care or switch to alternate drugs to continue to treat patients. And 99% are reporting some drug supply shortages, an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists survey of more than 1,000 pharmacists released Thursday found.

The organization reported shortages of 309 drugs, near the all-time high of 320 shortages in 2014. The scarcity of key drugs is prompting hospitals to find or substitute drugs and change treatment plans as needed.

“In some cases, there are no alternatives to the affected drugs, which puts patients at risk," ASHP Chief Executive Officer Paul W. Abramowitz said in a statement. "This issue requires quick action from Congress to address the underlying causes of shortages and ensure patients have the medications they need.”

Cancer drug shortages

In June, the Food and Drug Administration said it will temporarily allow overseas drug manufacturers to import some chemotherapy drugs.

The FDA allowed Qilu Pharmaceutical, a drug manufacturer in China, to import the injectable chemotherapy drug cisplatin in 50-milligram vials. Toronto pharmaceutical company Apotex Corp. will distribute the medication in the United States.

More than a dozen cancer drugs have been in shortage in recent months, including cisplatin and carboplatin, used to treat lung, breast, prostate and gynecologic cancers. The National Cancer Institute said cisplatin and similar drugs are prescribed for 10% to 20% of all cancer patients.

In June, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network released a survey of 27 academic cancer centers that found 93% reported shortages of carboplatin and 70% faced shortages of cisplatin.

When cancer hospitals face such shortages, they attempt to make sure there's enough medication for patients to finish the course of treatment, said Mike Ganio, ASHP's senior director of pharmacy practice and quality.

Cancer hospitals facing such shortages might change medications for new patients starting on chemotherapy, said Ganio, a former pharmacy manager at an academic cancer center.

"You try to keep that patient on the same regimen as much as you can, unless they're failing it for some reason, and then you would switch," Ganio said.

Steroids, hormonal drugs also in short supply

More than 1 in 5 hospital pharmacists also reported shortages for steroids, hormonal drugs and oral liquids such as lidocaine, ibuprofen and amoxicillin.

A smaller number of pharmacists said heart medications, emergency prefilled syringes and drugs used for intensive care unit patients were in short supply. Others reported shortages of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medicines, antimicrobial drugs and injectable opioids.

In all, about two-thirds of pharmacists said the shortages were "moderately impactful," which means they are managing shortages but patients are affected.

Pharmacists are managing the shortages by offering therapeutic alternatives, buying different vial sizes or concentrations and rationing medicines.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Survey: Drug shortages are widespread, hospitals ration care

The shortage of medications is partly due to restrictions on the supply of generic drugs, which limits their supply price and leads to low investment returns in new drugs.

Medication shortages are primarily caused by manufacturing and quality issues, including supply chain disruptions and downtime, with demand also being a contributing factor.

"Ireland is facing a paracetamol shortage, particularly for some prescription products, but other suppliers have stock available."

Carboplatin and cisplatin were the chemotherapy medications in short supply in US cancer centers, with 93% and 70% of treatment centers reporting shortages, respectively.

Title:

Content: |

FTC, US Health Dept Launch Probe Over Chemo Drug Shortages

The investigation is targeting so-called middlemen that broker deals between hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.

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Each year, roughly 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer, and for some, getting the proper treatment has become a very serious waiting game.

This week, the Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Health jointly launched a probe seeking information on how middlemen — group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and drug wholesalers — may be contributing to a lack of chemotherapies and other generic drugs.

The Cost of Cheap Drugs

While various cancer treatments have gone in and out of short supply for years, the problem became particularly acute in 2023. In May, a survey from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found that 93% of treatment centers reported they were short on carboplatin and 70% reported they were short on cisplatin. Those two drugs are used together and are prescribed to 10% to 20% of cancer patients. Those shortage rates dropped in the fall, but still sat at uncomfortably high levels, with many patients experiencing longer wait times between chemo sessions.

Access to raw materials for making drugs and an increase in patients play a part in the shortages, but the FTC and the Health Department suspect the middlemen buying and selling the medications might be at the heart of the issue:

  • Hospital transactions for medications are controlled almost entirely by three GPOs — Vizient, Premier, and HealthTrust — that purchase drugs on behalf of health centers, and three wholesalers — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson — that supply 90% of the pharmaceuticals, The Wall Street Journal reported.
  • Doctors, drugmakers, and patient advocate groups have argued that because the three GPOs represent so many hospitals, they’re able to win extremely low prices from wholesalers. But the prices may be so low that some drugmakers slash production or stop making the drugs entirely if they feel they can no longer turn a profit.

“For years Americans have faced acute shortages of critical drugs, from chemotherapy to antibiotics, endangering patients,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan. “Our inquiry requests information on the factors driving these shortages and scrutinizes the practices of opaque drug middlemen.”

A Growing Concern: A short supply of cancer treatments isn’t a great development, especially with new evidence that the disease is on the rise among younger generations. Most cancer patients are 65 and older, but one study published in JAMA last summer found cancer rates among people 50 and younger are going up, mostly driven by women and people in their 30s.