A Minnesota 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 Minnesota Taxotere hair loss lawsuit and seek compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Minnesota 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 Minnesota Taxotere hair loss lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Is Taxotere?
According to Breastcancer.org, Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug most commonly used in patients suffering from breast cancer, though it may also be used to treat stomach cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and head and neck cancer. Taxotere, chemically named docetaxel, is typically used with other drugs during chemotherapy following surgery, such as a mastectomy. It is given to patients intravenously, as there is currently no pill form of the drug available.
Taxotere, manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis, is a member of the class of drugs used in chemotherapy called plant alkaloids, meaning that they are derived from plants, according to Chemocare. Taxanes like Taxotere are made using the Pacific Yew tree’s bark. Other taxanes that may be used instead of Taxotere include Taxol and Abraxane.
Chemotherapy Side Effects and Hair Loss
Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer often find themselves facing challenges beyond the physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by the disease itself. According to the National Cancer Institute, some of these may stem from the aggressive nature of cancer treatments and the side effects of these. Pain, fatigue, memory problems and hair loss are some reactions that are commonly experienced during treatment.
Because hair loss is often distressing, BreastCancer.org suggests many steps women may take to lessen the emotional impact of this common but usually temporary consequence of chemotherapy. These include finding a support group, purchasing wigs that resemble the original hair and helping children and other family members to be ready for the changes.
Permanent Hair Loss Research
The Annals of Oncology indicates that Taxotere has been connected with complete hair loss, or alopecia. Although most patients experience new hair growth three to six months after concluding treatment using other chemotherapy drugs, numerous cases of permanent hair loss, or alopecia, have been associated with Taxotere. The condition may be more likely when Taxotere is combined with other chemotherapy drugs.
Researchers measured the emotional trauma of the condition by issuing the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire to women who participated in the study. The scores indicated that they experienced significant psychological distress when hair did not grow back in the months and years after the chemotherapy.
FDA Regulation and Misleading Information
A warning letter issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Taxotere warns the manufacturer that certain false claims made on the label must be changed. The agency points out that the drug has been marketed as a more successful treatment than the other chemotherapy medications on the market, which is not verified by adequate research.
CBS News reports that many women who have lost their hair permanently blame the company for failing to mention the risks while overstating the efficacy of Taxotere in the prescription information. Plaintiffs indicate that the language was vague, and it suggested that hair loss typically was not permanent, leaving women with a false reassurance of the drug’s safety.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuits Filed
One lawsuit alleges that the manufacturer deliberately misled the public by failing to mention the increased risk and the higher levels of toxicity when compared to other drugs on the market with the same use. Litigation cites financial harm women experience due to missed work as a result of the psychological damages caused by the disfigurement of baldness. The plaintiff claims that the appropriate warnings do appear on marketing and prescription information the company provided in other countries.
Another plaintiff also claims that she was not able to work due to the mental suffering that her appearance caused after losing all the hair on her head, face and body. Many similar product liability lawsuits have been filed by women who have not had new hair growth over the years since they were exposed to the chemotherapy drug. Doctors say the condition is apparently not reversible.
How a Minnesota 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 Taxotere 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 Minnesota. 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.
