A Maryland Taxotere hair loss lawyer may be able to assist individuals who experienced permanent hair loss after being treated with the chemotherapy drug. Most patients battling various cancers expect some amount of hair loss as a side effect of certain forms of chemotherapy, but those expectations are generally of a temporary issue with natural regrowth after treatments have ceased. In some cases, hair loss was found to be permanent and plaintiffs have claimed in lawsuits that Taxotere is to blame. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a claim with the help of a Maryland Taxotere hair loss lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Maryland 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 hair loss lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Alopecia Areata
According to Medical News Today, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out in patches. Burning sensations and itching can accompany the inflamed hair follicles as they are attacked by white blood cells and treated as enemies by the body’s immune system. While the condition can cause only mild amounts of coin-sized loss around the scalp, some patients experience total hair loss on their entire body, including the eyebrows and any facial hair. Doctors have yet to find a remedy and those suffering with the condition have limited options for treatment, including:
- Photochemotherapy
- Injection or application of corticosteroids
- Medications that can affect hair re-growth
While these methods may help temporarily, they also carry additional side effects and precautions and add a level of difficulty to the patient’s life.
Despite being incorrectly linked to stress, in normal cases of the incurable disease, patients have a family history of the condition, making it traceable genetically. Having relatives with other autoimmune diseases can increase the risk of developing alopecia areata. Hair loss starts before age 30 in most patients and It has been estimated that around 6.5 million U.S. citizens are affected by the condition.
Why Are Patients Working with a Maryland Taxotere Hair Loss Lawyer?
In 2008, BreastCancer.org published a study that found patients using Taxotere or Taxol once every three weeks had a lower 5-year survival rate than those who took it ever week. Additionally, the same group were less likely to go into remission or even survive for five years post their diagnosis. The researchers in this study did not compare the effectiveness of Taxotere against other drugs – only against varying treatment plans.
Despite the positive outcomes of the study, in 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration made changes to Taxotere’s label. The new label noted several serious side effects, including:
- Reduction of white blood cells, which can lead to fatal infections
- Fluid retention at a deadly level
- Severe allergic reactions that can lead to death
- Decreased renal function in patients with existing liver problems
Despite the previous findings that a more frequent treatment schedule reduces risk of death, the FDA warned patients that higher doses of the drug can actually increase the risk of death and serious side effects. This is important to note as the medication is used to treat several cancers, including:
- Prostate cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Breast cancer
Of the various cancers that use Taxotere in treatment, non-small cell lung and breast cancer have both reported incidents of drug-related deaths from the medication. While alopecia was also a common side effect noted across many cancers, the exact number of permanent cases of alopecia was not reported, but has been noted by the FDA.
Cases Being Filed Against Taxotere Manufacturers
While many of the studies lumped the use of Taxol and Taxotere together, patients being administered Taxotere began noticing that the hair loss associated with chemotherapy was sometimes permanent. Lawsuits and investigations have been launched by patients claiming that, had they realized the potential side effect of permanent hair loss, they would have opted to take Taxol instead during their cancer treatment. The National Cancer Research Institute released a study confirming that alopecia areata developed in 10-15 percent of patients who were administered Taxotere.
How a Maryland Taxotere Hair Loss Lawyer 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 Maryland. 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.
