A Nevada 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 Nevada Taxotere lawsuit and seek compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Nevada 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 and How Does It Work?
Taxotere is a form of chemotherapy approved for the treatment of breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, advanced stomach cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and head and neck cancer. Taxotere may be used as a single treatment or in combination with other chemotherapeutic medications depending on the type and stage of cancer being treated.
Taxotere belongs to a class of drugs called taxanes, chemical compounds originally derived from plants of the genus Taxus (yew tree). Taxotere works by inhibiting mitosis, or cell division. Unfortunately, like most chemotherapy drugs, Taxotere affects healthy cells as well as cancerous ones.
Taxotere and Permanent Hair Loss Studies
For many cancer patients, temporary hair loss can be a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, however, research shows an association between permanent alopecia (hair loss) and the use of Taxotere when used to treat patients with certain forms of cancer, including women who have had breast cancer.
In June 2011, an article published in the American Journal of Dermatopathology indicated that there is increased evidence that certain chemotherapy regimens can cause dose-dependent permanent alopecia (hair loss). In the article, the authors discuss a total of ten cases of permanent alopecia after systematic chemotherapy; six of those treatments used docetaxel (Taxotere) to treat breast cancer.
Likewise, a study published in the medical journal Annals of Oncology concluded that permanent and severe alopecia was a newly reported complication of docetaxel-based (Taxotere) cancer treatment. Twenty women treated for breast cancer with Taxotere were reported as having developed permanent alopecia between 2007 and 2011.
Taxotere and FDA Warnings
A warning letter sent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to drug maker Sanofi-Aventis in 2009 requested that the drug maker immediately stop the spread of misleading assertions suggesting the efficacy of Taxotere compared to other cancer drugs in its class.
In December 2015, the FDA issued updated safety information, noting that cases of permanent alopecia (hair loss) had been reported.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit Claims
An Illinois Taxotere hair loss lawsuit filed against drug makers Sanofi S.A. claims that post market surveillance has demonstrated that the more potent and more toxic Taxotere does not offer increased efficacy or benefits over other taxanes, contrary to the drug maker’s claims of superior efficacy.
Likewise, the lawsuit further alleges that Sanofi S.A. took part in a pattern of deception by exaggerating the benefits of Taxotere as compared to other alternatives while at the same time failing to notify patients of the risks associated with Taxotere, primarily disfiguring permanent alopecia. The lawsuit alleges that the drug maker concealed the existence of studies from the FDA, physicians, and patients that refuted the drug maker’s claims.
Taxotere Side Effects
Some people using Taxotere as a treatment for cancer may experience serious side effects, however, doctors generally prescribe the drug because the benefits outweigh the risk of side effects.
Serious side effects of Taxotere include:
- Swelling of the hands, feet, or legs
- Unexplained weight gain
- Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
- Muscle or joint pain
- Persistent weakness or fatigue
- Irregular heartbeat
- Severe stomach pain
- Decrease in the amount of urine
How a Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada. 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 Nevada today.
