Food and Drug Administration
In this country, there is a sincere need for regulation and protection of food, dietary supplements, medications, cosmetics, and medical devices for both pets and humans. The Food and Drug Administration works in conjunction with the United States Health and Human Services to help set up a system that keeps products and food safe for those who use and consume them on a daily basis. The FDA is given responsibility by the United States Congress to ensure that food is not misbranded and is healthy for people to consume as well as ensuring the safety of medical products, drugs, and testing devices. There are different branches of the Food and Drug Administration that assist in the different products that need to be monitored. For example, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is responsible for determining the safety and proper labeling of nearly all of the foods that are distributed to the public in the United States.
One of the most important factors of the FDA is determining what medications and medical devices are appropriate for treating illnesses such as cancer. Certain cancers, such as mesothelioma require specific treatments and medical devices to be used because the cancer is so severe and life threatening. The FDA has been responsible for approving certain medications such as Alimta and Mesomark. These treatment methods can be used in conjunction with common processes such as chemotherapy and radiation. The Food and Drug Administration has also been responsible for determining whether or not medications and treatments are effective and safe by what studies and research have found through clinical trials. More than half of the patients who contributed to the clinical trials for these different kinds of drugs showed a positive result with minimal side effects. The larger the clinical trial groups are, the more accurately the FDA can use the results as a factor in its safety and effectiveness. A patient is able to take medications and use different alternative treatments that have not been approved by the FDA but are strongly discouraged from doing so. If the FDA approves a certain kind of method, a patient can be sure that they are dealing with a substance that will not have adverse affects to their body and treatment of the cancer that they are trying to diminish.
Last modified: December 17 2007.
