Indiana Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit

Bald Woman - Indiana Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit
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An Indiana Taxotere hair loss lawsuit may be an option for cancer patients who experienced permanent hair loss after receiving the chemotherapy treatment. Although temporary hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy, some cancer patients are claiming that the use of Taxotere resulted in permanent hair loss. Affected patients and their families may be able to file an Indiana Taxotere hair loss lawsuit and recover compensation for their injuries.

For more information, contact Attorney Group for Indiana 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 Taxotere lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.

The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.Get Help Now.

What is Taxotere? 

According to the Mayo Clinic, Taxotere fights various types of cancer by preventing cancer cells from growing. As part of the antineoplastics family of medicines, this cancer-fighting drug must only be taken while the patient is under a doctor’s care since non-cancerous cells may also be affected and IV administration is required. The patient’s platelets and white blood cells also can decrease while taking Taxotere, making it difficult to properly form blood clots and fight off infection. There are several cancers that have been approved for treatment with Taxotere, including:

  • Prostate cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Gastric cancer
  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Head and neck cancer

While the drug is not currently labeled for use with other cancers, it has also been reportedly prescribed for ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer, small cell lung cancer and bladder cancer, sometimes in combination with other drugs.

Side Effects of Taxotere 

According to the website Chemocare.com, there are several common side effects associated with the use of Taxotere. Less common risks include low blood pressure, the discoloration of nail beds, foot and ankle swelling, and various skin reactions. More than 30 percent of patients also reported experiencing one or more of the following common reactions:

  • Diarrhea
  • Temporary reduction of red and white blood cells
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Sores in the mouth
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Some patients also reported developing hives, chills, flushing and shortness of breath as a result of hypersensitivity to the medicine. Tingling or numbness was reported in some patients’ feet and hands. While temporary hair loss was reported as a possible side effect, patients are claiming that they were not made aware of the fact that they could lose their hair permanently, following treatment.

Why Patients Are Filing an Indiana Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit

A study published in the Annals of Oncology investigated the relationship between breast cancer patients who were treated with Taxotere and their likelihood to develop alopecia, or permanent hair loss. Over a four-year period, doctors examined patients and discovered that, while most regrew lost hair after 3-6 months, some failed to ever replace the missing follicles. One patient was even reported to have used a different medication for a previous cancer treatment and developed short-term, reversible hair loss, but after a relapse of the cancer and treatment with Taxotere, alopecia developed and the hair was permanently gone.

Researchers found that hair loss could occur in any area of the body, including eyelashes, scalp and eyebrows, and generally occurred within two weeks of starting the treatment regimen. Once the patients stopped taking the drug, some noticed that incomplete regrowth of hair occurred for up to six months, but bald or thin patches still remained. Several medicines and treatment methods were attempted by practitioners and patients to restore missing hair, but none were effective.

Scientists reported that the permanent loss of hair caused significant distress to patients and negatively affected their body image. Researchers stated that alopecia was “one of the most distressing/troublesome side-effects of chemotherapy” and impacted the patients’ daily lives. The conclusion reached was that “permanent and severe alopecia is a newly reported complication of the FEC 100-docetaxel breast cancer regimen,” or treatment with Taxotere.

How an Indiana Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit Can Help

Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.

People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:

  • Medical Expenses
  • Lost Wages
  • Pain and Suffering

The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.

The Time You Have to File a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.

For more information, contact Attorney Group for Indiana. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.

After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to 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.