Our Nationwide Taxotere attorneys are investigating Taxotere claims of permanent hair loss suffered by cancer patients. Because Taxotere is a common chemotherapy drug prescribed to women fighting breast cancer, the incidents of women suffering permanent hair loss is rising. Our attorneys are seeing an increasing number of claims filed by cancer survivors throughout the United States. Because time is limited to file a Taxotere claim, you must act now to protect your legal right to hold the drug manufacturer liable for its negligent and careless acts.
For more information and a free case evaluation, contact The Olinde Firm at (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to speak with a Nationwide Taxotere drug attorney.
What is Taxotere?
Taxotere (docetaxel) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat breast cancer. Sanofi-Aventis manufactures and markets the drug. The FDA approved Taxotere to treat advanced breast cancer in 1996. Many doctors jumped on the Taxotere bandwagon because patients using this chemotherapy treatment showed “the highest tumor response rates ever reported for a single agent in this patient population.”
Chemotherapy patients anticipate some terrible side effects from the chemotherapy treatment. Common side effects associated with chemotherapy include vomiting, nausea, pain, blood disorders, appetite loss, fatigue, and temporary hair loss.
However, as far back as 2010, the FDA has been issuing warnings of adverse reactions associated with Taxotere. In 2010, the FDA modified the black box warnings to include reports of renal failure. Respiratory issues were added to the black box warnings in June 2013 and eye disorders were added in December of that same year. Then in November 2014, the FDA added a warning about the possibility of intoxication from the alcohol content in some formulations of Taxotere.
The most recent black box adverse reaction for Taxotere is permanent alopecia. This adverse reaction was added by the FDA in December 2015. Permanent alopecia is the subject of the recent Taxotere lawsuits filed by breast cancer survivors.
What is Permanent Alopecia?
Alopecia means hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Therefore, permanent alopecia is the permanent loss of hair. Breast cancer patients expect to lose their hair temporarily while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. However, most patients never dreamed they would lose their hair permanently. In fact, for many cancer survivors, hair regrowth is a sign that they have beat cancer and they are on the road to recovery. Tragically, for some patients who received Taxotere as part of their breast cancer chemotherapy treatment plan, their hair loss is permanent.
Permanent hair loss can have serious and extreme negative physical, emotional, and financial consequences for breast cancer survivors. Many patients were never warned that they might suffer permanent hair loss if they chose to use Taxotere to treat their breast cancer. Even though some patients may have chosen to take the risk because they felt the potential benefits outweighed the risk, the fact that these patients were never allowed to choose is the subject of many Taxotere lawsuits.
Why Is Informed Consent Important?
Every patient has the right of informed consent. Informed consent means that the patient receives all information regarding a drug treatment or medical treatment before consenting to the treatment. A patient must be informed of the potential risks and the potential benefits of a drug or medical treatment to decide whether to continue with treatment. Failure to warn a patient of the potential risks of a drug is negligence.
Many of the Taxotere lawsuits allege that the drug manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, knew about the risk of permanent hair loss but failed to warn physicians and patients. In fact, some patients accuse the drug manufacturer for aggressively marketing the drug as a highly effective treatment for breast cancer while concealing information and failing to test Taxotere fully before marketing the drug. Patients claim they relied on the warning label that stated a patient’s hair generally grows back to make their decision to use Taxotere to treat their cancer. Some women claim if they had known of the risk of permanent hair loss, they would have chosen another course of treatment. They were denied their right to make a fully informed decision regarding their treatment plan.
Contact A Taxotere Lawsuit Attorney For More Information
The Taxotere lawsuits are beginning to be filed against Sanofi as more women come forward with permanent hair loss after using Taxotere. If you or loved one has suffered permanent hair loss after using Taxotere, we urge you to contact our drug side effect attorneys for a free, confidential case evaluation.
It is unthinkable that a breast cancer survivor must endure a painful and permanent reminder of her struggle to beat breast cancer because of the negligent and careless acts of a drug manufacturer.
Contact Fred Olinde at (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to speak with a Nationwide Taxotere drug attorney. You may also contact our office online for more information. Our Taxotere lawyers are dedicated to helping breast cancer survivors obtain justice for permanent hair loss.