Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. Certain medications to treat cancer can have severe long-term or permanent side effects, such as Taxotere. If you or a loved one suffered harm while taking Taxotere as part of a chemotherapy regimen, you may be able to collect compensation for the material and immaterial losses you incurred. Contact Wendt Law Firm, P.C. to schedule a free review of your legal options.
The personal injury attorneys at Wendt Law Firm, P.C. are uniquely equipped to handle your case.
Matters of mass tort law involve complex procedures and timely intervention. If you suffered painful side effects or incurred additional medical costs as a consequence of taking Taxotere, don’t wait. Contact a Kansas City Taxotere attorney as soon as possible. A personal injury lawyer helps navigate the process and will work to obtain compensation on your behalf, so you can focus on recovering from your illness and the associated side effects.
Chemotherapy medications can have several serious side effects, and Taxotere is no exception. It works to control the rate of division that occurs within cells. Like most forms of chemotherapy, it cannot target the cancer cells directly. As a result, it tends to have an effect on all cells that divide quickly, such as hair follicles.
Taxotere has numerous possible side effects. Those taking the medication have reported headaches, weight loss, susceptibility to infection, rapid heart rate, loss of appetite, lesions in the mouth and throat, bruising, fevers, general body pain, numbness in the extremities, and hair loss.
However, the hair loss stemming from Taxotere often does not regrow, or does not regrow fully. The hair loss can occur everywhere the body grows hair, from the head and eyebrows to the armpits and pubic region. This condition, called alopecia, occurs in 3-15% of patients who take Taxotere.
Over 700 women in the United States have filed suits against Sanofi-Aventis, Taxotere’s manufacturer. The plaintiff’s claim the company used false marketing and covered up the long-term effects of their drug, especially the permanent hair loss. The lawsuits are now all part of multi-district litigation, or mass tort action. Others who experienced detrimental effects from taking Taxotere may be able to join the action and receive compensation with a streamlined process under the guidance of a Taxotere lawyer.
All drugs, especially those for chemotherapy, carry known risks and benefits. Patients have a right to fully understand the benefits and risks of taking medication before providing informed consent for treatment. Failure to warn of the risks of taking a particular medication could make the drug’s manufacturer liable for any damages, economic or general, that result. Sanofi-Aventis failed to list hair loss as a possible side effect of the drug until 2015. Sanofi-Aventis also did not properly educate providers and patients about the possible ramifications of its use.
If you are a cancer survivor who has suffered permanent hair loss or other side effects as a result of taking Taxotere, you may be able to seek compensation for damages. A Kansas City Taxotere lawyer in Kansas City can help you explore your legal options in Missouri. Contact us to schedule a free evaluation of your case today.