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CHAPEL HILL -- A nationwide shortage of critical cancer drugs is leaving some North Carolina hospitals scrambling to make sure patients get the treatments they need.

"It is scary. Not just for me, but for others,” said Alice While, who travels every week from her home in the Sandhills to the North Carolina Cancer Hospital at UNC.

While says she has a lot of faith that her doctors can get the right medicines she needs to treat her cancer, but she's worried after hearing about a recent drug shortage.

"It's to a point now where whenever people think of a given treatment, they have to think in the back of their mind, 'Do we have the drug? Is this on shortage?'" said Dr. John Valgas, a doctor at the hospital's chemotherapy pharmacy.

The FDA reports drug shortages have nearly tripled nationwide in the past six years. There was a shortage of 61 drugs in 2005. In 2010, that number was up to nearly 178. Many of those are lifesaving cancer drugs.

Valgas says this year the struggle continues for oncologists and pharmacists as they are sometimes forced to alter or delay treatments for patients.

"It could mean their cancer is not cured at the same rate. That's our worst fear that we would be compromising how our medications work,” Valgas said.

Valgas says the problem is with manufacturers who blame lack of raw materials and recalls for the shortages. He has reached out to lawmakers in Congress to pass federal legislation that would require U.S. drug makers to provide advance warning of shortages.

While says she's hopeful lawmakers will force drug companies to get her the medicine she needs to fight cancer.

"Our legislators, I'm sure they've all been touched by cancer in some way. I'm sure they'll be sympathetic,” While said.

UNC Hospital says it is working directly with other hospitals in the state like Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem to face medication shortages.