A Kentucky 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 a Kentucky Taxotere lawsuit and seek compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kentucky 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 type of cancer therapy used to treat the following kinds of cancer:
- Breast cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Metastatic prostate cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Head and neck cancer
How Does Taxotere Work?
Taxotere (also known as docetaxel) belongs to a class of drugs called taxanes. Taxanes were originally developed from the Pacific yew tree. Taxanes target microtubules, highly dynamic cellular polymers that play an important role in cell division, and stop them from dividing and multiplying.
Taxotere and Permanent Hair Loss
Although some chemotherapy drugs—including Taxotere—may cause temporary hair loss, some patients claim that they have experienced permanent hair loss after being treated for cancer with Taxotere.
According to A Head of Our Time, an organization of people (mostly women who have been treated for breast cancer with chemotherapy drugs such as Taxotere) who share their support and research concerning permanent hair loss, researchers at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers in Denver, Colorado found that 6.3% of breast cancer patients grew back less than 50% of their hair after they were given Taxotere in conjunction with other chemotherapeutic drugs.
Additionally, safety information issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that cases of permanent alopecia have been reported as a possible adverse reaction to the cancer medication Taxotere.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit Claims
Despite claims of superior efficacy made by Sanofi S.A., maker of Taxotere, an Ohio Taxotere hair loss lawsuit alleges that post market surveillance has shown that the more potent and more toxic Taxotere does not offer increased efficacy over other taxanes. Likewise, the lawsuit claims that the drug makers concealed the existence of studies from the FDA, physicians, and patients that refuted the claims made by the drug maker.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that, as a result of the drug maker’s statements related to the efficacy over other treatments, the FDA issued a warning letter to Sanofi S.A. citing their unsubstantiated claims of superiority.
The lawsuit also cites another lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania by a former Sanofi-Aventis U.S., Inc. employee accusing the drug maker of engaging in a fraudulent marketing scheme, paying kickbacks, and providing other unlawful incentives to entice physicians to use their product. As a result, the lawsuit claims that the drug makers were able to gain billions of dollars in revenue in addition to causing thousands of individuals to be exposed to severe side effects, including permanent, disfiguring hair loss.
Taxotere Side Effects
Common side effects of Taxotere may include:
- Increased risk of infection due to a drop in white blood cells (severe infections may be life-threatening)
- Tiredness and/or breathlessness due to a drop in red blood cells, possibly leading to a blood transfusion
- Bruising more easily due to a drop in blood platelets, resulting in nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or tiny red spots or bruises on the arms and legs known as petechial
- Tiredness and weakness during and after treatment
- Discolored fingernails and toenails
- Numbness and tingling
Other Taxotere Risks
Although chemotherapy treatment schedules are relatively short, long-term issues may arise, according to the Cancer Network. For some younger breast cancer patients, fertility issues may occur after certain chemotherapy treatments. Additionally, taxane-based chemotherapy treatments such as Taxotere may lead to neuropathy, potentially leading to poor balance and other complications.
How a Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky. 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 Kentucky today.
