An Illinois Taxotere hair loss lawsuit may be an option for chemotherapy patients who took Taxotere and suffered permanent hair loss. Taxotere, a chemotherapy drug used to treat breast, prostate, non-small cell lung cancer, stomach, and head and neck cancers, has been linked to permanent, disfiguring hair loss. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file an Illinois Taxotere lawsuit and seek compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Illinois 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 an injected form of chemotherapy used to treat breast, prostate, lung, stomach, and head and neck cancers. Originally developed from the Pacific yew tree, Taxotere is a type of drug known as a taxane. Mostly man made now, taxanes are chemical compounds that work by disrupting microtuble function, cellular structures that are essential components of cell division.
Taxotere and Permanent Hair Loss
Patients who undergo chemotherapy treatment may experience temporary hair loss as a result of the medication’s effect healthy cells in addition to cancerous ones. Some patients, particularly women with breast cancer, who have been treated with Taxotere claim that they have experienced permanent alopecia, or hair loss.
In June 2011, an article published in the American Journal of Dermatopathology reported 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.
Research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute Conference showed significant hair loss reported by patients who responded to a questionnaire regarding Taxotere and its connection with patient hair loss.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit Claims
An Illinois lawsuit filed against drug makers Sanofi S.A. claims that the drug maker, through their publications and marketing materials, misled the plaintiff, the public, and the medical community to believe that patients’ hair would grow back, as is the case with other chemotherapy drugs that can cause alopecia.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Sanofi S.A. either knew or should have known that a Denver-based oncologist had observed that an increased percentage (6.3%) of his patients who had taken Taxotere suffered from permanent disfiguring hair loss for years after the patients had top taking Taxotere. According to the lawsuit, thousands of women were exposed to the risk of permanent alopecia without any warning and without any benefit as a result of the drug maker’s wrongful and deceptive acts.
Plaintiffs claim that they experienced permanent alopecia as a result of taking Taxotere, leading severe and permanent injuries including medical expenses; mental anguish; severe and debilitating emotional distress; and past, present, and future physical and mental pain, suffering, and discomfort.
Taxotere Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, common side effects of Taxotere include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Dryness or soreness of the throat
- Mild skin rash or redness
- Weakness in the arms, legs, hands, or feet
- Sores or ulcers on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth
Serious side effects include:
- Burning, numbness, tingling, or pain in the arms, hands, legs, hands, or feet
- Swelling of the stomach, face, fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Weight gain
Other Taxotere Risks
In a safety communication issued by the FDA in 2014, the agency warned that docetaxel (Taxotere) contains ethanol, a form of alcohol, which may cause patients to experience intoxication or feel drunk during or after treatment. Patients are advised to notify their doctor or healthcare professional if they experience symptoms of feeling drunk, confusion, stumbling, or becoming very sleepy.
Patients may also experience potentially severe allergic reactions during chemotherapy treatment with Taxotere and are advised to tell their doctor if they experience any serious complications.
How an Illinois 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 Illinois 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 for more information.Get Help Now.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Illinois. 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.
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