Breast cancer treatment can affect the hair on your body in different ways. Your hair may change colors, become very thin, or fall out. One particular drug caused permanent hair loss. The manufacturing brand of the chemotherapy drug Taxotere, Sanofi Aventis, failed to warn patients utilizing the drug of its permanent hair loss side effects (also known as alopecia).
Taxotere Chemotherapy, was approved by the FDA in 1996. Taxanes interfere with the ability of cancer cells to divide when given directly into the veins, and is often used after surgery to treat early as well as advanced stages of breast cancer. Sanofi Avantis released a 2005 study revealing a permanent hair loss rate of almost 10%, yet nothing was released about permanent hair loss until 2016 in the United States. The chemotherapy drug causes follicle destruction and sometimes has lead to complete baldness.
While other breast cancer chemotherapy treatments were available and just as effective as Taxane, Sanofi-Aventis “pushed doctors to use Taxotere and withheld information about the risk of permanent hair loss.” (Source) Patients using Taxane were told to expect hair re-growth within 4-6 months after use.
Lawsuits nationwide have been filed over Taxotere chemotherapy hair loss that continued for years, even decades after treatment. Women impacted by alopecia often felt severe embarrassment, mental distress, an impact on relationships, and depression.
The product liability lawyers at The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker are actively pursuing Taxotere lawsuits for women throughout California and Arizona. If you or a loved one has suffered permanent or long-term hair loss problems as a result of the breast cancer chemotherapy drug Taxotere, contact our offices today.
Our team has already helped thousands of people successfully fight the big drug manufacturers, and we can help you.
To schedule a free, confidential, no obligation consultation, contact us via email using our case submission form or by phone at (800) 333-0000. If we don’t get you any money, we won’t charge you a dime. We’ll fight for you!®
