A Texas Taxotere hair loss lawsuit may be an option for chemotherapy patients who took Taxotere and suffered permanent hair loss. Taxotere, also known as docetaxel, is an anti-cancer chemotherapy medication used to treat certain forms of cancer, particularly breast cancer. However, Taxotere has been linked to permanent hair loss in addition to other serious side effects and risks. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a Texas Taxotere lawsuit and seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Texas 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 can be used alone 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 cell division.
Taxotere and Permanent Hair Loss Research
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.
According to an article published in the American Journal of Dermatopathology, there is increased evidence that certain chemotherapy treatments—such as treatment with Taxotere—may cause permanent hair loss. In the article, researchers note ten cases of permanent alopecia, six of which occurred after chemotherapy treatment with taxanes.
Likewise, a study published in the medical journal Annals of Oncology concluded that twenty women treated for breast cancer with Taxotere were reported as having developed permanent alopecia between 2007 and 2011. As a result of these findings, the authors warn that physicians and patients should be aware of this new distressing side effect, considering that the role of taxane based therapies (such as Taxotere) has increased.
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 effectiveness of Taxotere compared to other taxanes.
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
In March 2016, an Illinois Taxotere hair loss lawsuit was filed against Sanofi S.A., the maker of Taxotere. The lawsuit claims that the drug maker (among other claims) failed to:
- Accompany their product with proper and/or accurate warnings regarding all possible adverse side effects associated with the drug, including permanent alopecia;
- Conduct adequate testing, including pre-clinical and clinical testing and post marketing surveillance to determine the safety, dangers, and risks associated with the drug;
- Advise prescribing physicians to instruct their patients that permanent alopecia (hair loss) was a side effect of the drug;
- Provide adequate warnings regarding the increased risk of permanent alopecia with the use of Taxotere compared to other products designed to treat the same conditions; and
- Include a “boxed warning” related to permanent or persistent alopecia.
The lawsuit further alleges that, despite the fact that the drug makers knew or should have known that Taxotere caused unreasonably dangerous side effects such as permanent alopecia, the drug makers continued to market, manufacture, and/or sell Taxotere.
Taxotere Side Effects
Common side effects of Taxotere include:
- Injection site reactions such as pain, redness, or swelling
- Nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or loss of appetite
- Feeling weak or tired
- Muscle pain
How a Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas. 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.
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