Charleston Taxotere Injury Lawyer

Cancer patients are well aware that drugs to fight cancer case hair loss, but there is a return of hair for many about six months or so later after the drugs have been stopped. Although it does depend on the type and potency of the drug, there is hope of regrowing hair. To lose that hope is devastating. At the Steinberg Law Firm, we understand what you are dealing with and how it affects you. We are here to help you. Get our firm behind you and have us work to obtain a financial award for your losses.

Taxotere (Docetaxel)

Taxotere, classified as a plant alkaloid, is a drug commonly used for breast cancer and is created and manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis Inc. It was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 and has, since then, been used for breast and other forms of cancer. It is administered by IV and is supposed to slow or stop the division of cancer cells in a targeted manner. It is given every three weeks versus weekly for other chemotherapy drugs.

The drug information sheet that was originally included with Taxotere did list hair loss as a possible side effect and indicated that “hair generally grows back” when treatments are completed. In reality, a significant number of woman reported permanent hair loss even years after stopping the drug. Sanofi-Aventis did not release data on hair loss nor did it investigate such claims any further. It was not until 2015 that the FDA finally updated the warning label for Taxotere to indicate permanent hair loss was possible.

Studies linking Taxotere to permanent hair loss were published by the Clatterbridge Cancer Center in the UK and the New England Journal of Medicine. The UK study found women who had been taking Taxotere were suffering from scalp alopecia (baldness) up to three and a half years after treatment for breast cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine study revealed 9.2 percent of woman suffered permanent hair loss up to 10 years after treatment.

Common Taxotere side effects

Taxotere causes a wide range of side effects, including:

• Myalgia
• Neuropathy
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Decreased appetite
• Febrile neutropenia
• Infection
• Stomatitis
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Neutropenia
• Possible anaphylaxis

Defective drug lawsuits claims

When dealing with a defective drug lawsuit, there are a number of claims that may be made to move a plaintiff’s case forward. They include:

• Design defects
• Manufacturing defects
• Breach of express and implied warranty
• Fraudulent misrepresentation
• Negligence
• Failure to warn consumers
• Failure to warn medical professionals

Why is taxotere so different that other cancer medications? It has been speculated that it is more dangerous than other products to treat cancer because it is more potent and thus has the potential to do more damage.

Damages that may be claimed in Taxotere lawsuits

Plaintiffs may be able to claim the following damages:

• Past medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Therapy costs
• Psychological counselling
• Post loss of earning capacity
• Future loss of earning capacity
• Mental anguish
• Permanent disfigurement (permanent alopecia)
• Debilitating emotional distress
• An increased risk of future harm
• Past loss and impairment of quality/enjoyment of life
• Present loss and impairment of quality/enjoyment of life
• Future loss and impairment of quality/enjoyment of life
• Past physical/mental pain, suffering, discomfort
• Present physical/mental pain, suffering, discomfort
• Future physical/mental pain, suffering, discomfort

As of May 2018, 8,557 Taxotere lawsuits have been filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana, where a single court is handling all matters related to these lawsuits. This is referred to as a mass tort and can be filed anywhere in the United States. There are also a growing number of lawsuits, over 350, pending in the New Jersey state court, more cases pending in Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, California, Colorado, Illinois and Missouri.

The Steinberg Law Firm understands what it takes to make a solid defective drug case that results in fair and equitable compensation for you. Call us today for your free consultation and learn about your legal rights. Call The Steinberg Law Firm at 843-720-2800 as soon as possible.

Our initial consultation is confidential and completely free of charge. You pay nothing to speak to a lawyer about your case. We understand that the claims process can be difficult, and the paperwork can really pile up. Our attorneys can help you understand the details of your case, your legal rights, and how to get the compensation and justice you deserve.