An Alabama Taxotere hair loss lawsuit may be an option for chemotherapy patients who took Taxotere and suffered permanent hair loss. Although temporary hair loss may be a common side effect of chemotherapy, Taxotere has been linked to permanent hair loss. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file an Alabama Taxotere lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Alabama today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Taxotere and How Does It Work?
Taxotere is a prescription medication used to treat various forms of cancer, including breast, lung, prostate, and stomach cancer. Taxotere belongs to a class of chemotherapy medications known as taxanes, a type of plant alkaloid made from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (taxus).
Taxotere works primarily by disrupting microtubule function. Microtubules are an essential part of cell division, and taxanes such as Taxotere block cell growth by inhibiting the process of cell division.
Taxotere and Permanent Hair Loss
Because chemotherapy treatments target all rapidly dividing cells, including healthy and cancerous cells, some treatments may destroy rapidly-growing hair cells and cause patients to loss some or all of their hair. Although temporary hair loss is listed as a known side effect and may be expected, Taxotere has also been linked to complete and permanent hair loss.
In December 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued updated safety information, noting that cases of permanent alopecia (hair loss) had been reported.
A study published in the medical journal Annals of Oncology concluded that permanent and severe alopecia was a newly reported complication of docetaxel-based (Taxotere) cancer treatment. Twenty women treated for breast cancer with Taxotere were reported as having developed permanent alopecia between 2007 and 2011.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit Claims
A lawsuit filed against drug makers Sanofi S.A. claims that, contrary to the drug maker’s claims of superior efficacy, post market surveillance has shown that the more potent and more toxic Taxotere does not in fact offer increased efficacy or benefits over other taxanes. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that the drug maker concealed the existence of studies from the FDA, physicians, and patients that refuted the drug maker’s claims.
The lawsuit further alleges that Sanofi S.A. engaged in a pattern of deception by overstating the benefits of Taxotere as compared to other alternatives while simultaneously failing to warn of the risk of disfiguring permanent alopecia. Because the words permanent alopecia or permanent hair loss do not appear on in any information published by the drug maker in the United States, thousands of women were exposed to the risk of disfiguring permanent alopecia without any warning.
Plaintiffs claim that they experienced permanent alopecia as a result of taking Taxotere, leading to severe and personal injuries including past and future medical expenses, permanent disfigurement, mental anguish, severe and debilitating emotional distress, and impairment of the quality and enjoyment of life.
Taxotere Side Effects
Common side effects of Taxotere include:
- Low white blood cell count, possibly increasing the risk of infection
- Low red blood cell count, or anemia
- Fluid retention
- Peripheral neuropathy, or numbness in the fingers or toes
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
Less common side effects of Taxotere include:
- Vomiting
- Muscle, bone, or joint pain
- Low platelet count
Other Taxotere Risks
Some patients may experience certain allergic reactions when receiving intravenous treatment for certain types of cancer. Patients who are undergoing treatment with Taxotere are advised to notify their doctor or health care provider immediately if they experience itching or hives, swelling in the face or hands, swelling or tingling in the mouth or throat, chest tightness, or trouble breathing.
How an Alabama Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Taxotere may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Taxotere, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects, including permanent hair loss, after taking Taxotere, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of an Alabama Taxotere hair loss lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Alabama. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Alabama today.
