CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A national chemotherapy drug shortage is affecting treatment plans for cancer patients in Charlottesville.

U.S. hospitals are seeing a shortage because of supply chain issues and the shutdown of a plant in India.

The FDA said more than a dozen drugs are currently in shortage.

But two in particular, carboplatin and cisplatin, treat the majority of patients at the University of Virginia Cancer Center.

"We're managing that by working very closely with providers, by trying to reduce our use on a day-to-day basis in areas where there may be acceptable alternatives. Going to spare some of these agents that are more critical so we can save them for the patients that don't have an alternative,” UVA Pharmacy Manager Brian Spoelhof said.

He said they can't imagine what patients are feeling with the unexpected changes, but they're doing their best to make it a smooth transition.  

"We work with a multidisciplinary group of pharmacists, nurses, doctors and bioethicists who help us think about what is really going to be best for the patient," he said.  

He said they don’t know when anything will change and encouraged patients to keep checking in with their doctors. 

The FDA announced it's working with a Chinese drugmaker to import carboplatin and cisplatin to the United States. Officials haven't said when that will begin.