A California Taxotere hair loss lawsuit may be an option for chemotherapy patients who took Taxotere and suffered permanent hair loss. Taxotere, also known as docetaxel, is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug used to treat certain forms of cancer, particularly breast cancer. However, Taxotere has been associated with permanent hair loss as well as other serious side effects and risks. Affected patients and their families may be able to pursue compensation for damages with the help of a California Taxotere lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for California 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?
Taxotere is a form of chemotherapy approved for the treatment of breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, advanced stomach cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and head and neck cancer. Taxotere is may be used as a single treatment or in combination with other chemotherapeutic medications depending on the type and stage of cancer being treated.
Taxotere belongs to a class of drugs called taxanes, chemical compounds originally derived from plants of the genus Taxus (yew tree). Taxotere works by inhibiting mitosis, or cell division. Unfortunately, like most chemotherapy drugs, Taxotere affects healthy cells as well as cancerous ones.
Taxotere and Permanent Hair Loss
For many cancer patients, temporary hair loss can be a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, however, permanent alopecia (hair loss) has been associated with the use of Taxotere when used to treat patients with certain forms of cancer, particularly women who have had breast cancer.
In June 2011, an article published in the American Journal of Dermatopathology indicated that there is increased evidence that certain chemotherapy regimens can cause dose-dependent permanent alopecia (hair loss). In the article, the authors discuss a total of ten cases of permanent alopecia after systematic chemotherapy; six of those treatments used docetaxel (Taxotere) to treat breast cancer.
According to safety information released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), cases of permanent alopecia have been reported as a possible adverse reaction to the cancer drug Taxotere.
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 demonstrated that the more potent and more toxic Taxotere does not in fact offer increased efficacy or benefits over other taxanes.
Likewise, 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 at the same time 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.
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.
Affected patients claim that the permanent hair loss they experienced as a result of taking Taxotere lead to permanent disfigurement, resulting in severe and personal injuries including past and future medical expenses, mental anguish, emotional distress, and impairment of the quality and enjoyment of life.
Taxotere Side Effects
Some people using Taxotere as a treatment for cancer may experience serious side effects, however, doctors generally prescribe the drug because the benefits outweigh the risk of side effects.
Side effects of Taxotere include:
- Pain or swelling at the injection site
- Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
- Excessive tearing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
Serious side effects include:
- Swelling of the hands, feet, or legs
- Unexplained weight gain
- Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
- Muscle or joint pain
- Persistent weakness or fatigue
- Irregular heartbeat
- Severe stomach pain
- Decrease in the amount of urine
How a California 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 a California Taxotere hair loss lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for California.
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.
