Taxotere Lawsuits Mount as Alopecia Awareness Grows

July is International Women with Alopecia Month.

Many of us here at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys know or have known someone who has suffered from breast cancer.  Their struggle hits close to home. So, it is deeply troubling that some women who have won the fight against breast cancer continue to suffer long after treatment has ended.

Temporary hair loss is a common side-effect of chemotherapy treatment, but, in most cases, patients can expect that their hair will grow back. However, it has recently been revealed that one of the most common chemo drugs used to treat breast cancer, Taxotere,  is causing women to suffer permanent hair loss and alopecia.

Alopecia is a condition characterized by long-term or permanent baldness or loss of body hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. For breast cancer survivors, permanent hair loss is more than a cosmetic issue – it is a physical, psychological, and emotional scar. It is a constant reminder of their struggle.

Sanofi-Aventis, the makers of Taxotere, allegedly knew about this side effect as early as 2005, after studies found that 9.2% of Taxotere users suffered from alopecia.  The company didn’t warn women in the United States until January, 2016. Women in Europe and Canada were warned years earlier. Some survivors have filed suit against Sanofi-Aventis  for failing to provide adequate warning about the known side-effects of this drug, and for overstating its effectiveness.

The makers of Taxotere made billions of dollars at the expense of women who were never able to make an informed choice about their treatment. Sanofi-Aventis profited by taking advantage of women in a sensitive and vulnerable position, and they must be held accountable. International Women with Alopecia Month is an opportunity to show solidarity with these women and raise awareness about this issue.

If you or someone you love suffered from alopecia or permanent hair loss after treating with Taxotere (docetaxel), contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation. An experienced, compassionate personal injury lawyer from our firm will answer your questions, at no charge, and help you determine the next steps to take.

 

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