A Taxotere lawsuit may be an option for chemotherapy patients who took Taxotere and suffered permanent hair loss. Taxotere, also called docetaxel, is a form of chemotherapy used to treat breast, prostate, stomach, lung, and head and neck cancer. While temporary hair loss can be a common side effect of chemotherapy treatments, Taxotere has been allegedly linked to permanent, disfiguring hair loss. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit and seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group 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 attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Taxotere?
The National Cancer Institute reports that Taxotere, or Docetaxel as it is known in its intravenous form, combats the spread of cancer with its unique ability to attach to and stabilize tubulin. This stabilization eventually leads to the death of cancerous cells in the human body. When these cells are destroyed, cancer can no longer spread. Some researchers also believe that the drug may be able to make patients more responsive to radiation therapies. Taxotere belongs to a special class of drugs known as Taxanes since they are derived from the Taxus Baccata tree.
Taxotere Treatment for Cancer
According to the Mayo Clinic, Taxotere is often used to treat various forms of cancer, and may be administered alone or with other treatments. The medicine is usually given in either liquid or powder form, and can only be used under the close supervision of a physician. Although it has proved to be useful against many cancers, it has understood to be especially effective in the treatment of breast cancer.
Taxotere Side Effects
While Taxotere is popular as a treatment for cancer, the drug has been linked to a wide array of side effects. The National Center for Biotechnology Information has stated that the following Taxotere side effects may occur:
- Neuropathies (weakness, numbness, and pain from nerve damage)
- Pneumonitis (inflammation of the walls of the lung)
- Fluid Retention
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal Issues
- Toxicity of the Skin and Nails
This is not a complete list of side effects, but they are some of the most commonly reported. These Taxotere side effects may be temporary or acute, depending on the patient.
Study Shows Taxotere Connection to Permanent Hair Loss
The loss of one’s hair is a reported side effect of chemotherapy but it generally grows back. Permanent hair loss or alopecia is now believed to be a possible side effect of Taxotere. In a study carried out by the European Society for Medical Oncology and published in the Oxford Annals of Oncology, permanent hair loss was observed in several breast cancer patients. The study was undertaken in January 2007 and followed 20 Caucasian, female breast cancer patients who had been administered Taxotere as part of their treatment over the next four years. The study concluded that permanent hair loss was indeed a possible side effect of the drug. The study also noted that traditional alopecia treatments failed to reverse the Taxotere-induced form of the condition.
Permanent Hair Loss as the Basis of a Taxotere Lawsuit
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also taken note of these reports of permanent hair loss in Taxotere patients. Between June 2013 and December 2015, a host of adverse side effects were officially linked to Taxotere and its generic equivalent. As a result of these issues, the FDA asked the makers of Taxotere and Docetaxel to list permanent hair loss as a potential side effect on their warning labels. There have been no official recalls of Taxotere or any of its generic equivalents.
As a result of the permanent hair loss, some patients are starting to file Taxotere lawsuits. One woman filed a Taxotere lawsuit after she lost all of her body hair, including her eyelashes and eyebrows. She claims that Taxotere side effects cost her immense physical embarrassment and mental anguish.
How a Taxotere 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 Taxotere 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. 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.
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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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