When it comes to cancer, many patients are unaware of all their treatment options. Unfortunately, taking the wrong medication can have dire effects on your body. This is exactly what happened to a group of women being treated for breast cancer with docetaxel, the generic form of the chemotherapy drug Taxotere.
Support For Hair Loss Claims
Several lawsuits have been filed against the makers of Taxotere that claim women have suffered from extended alopecia, or hair loss, after taking the drug as part of a cancer treatment regimen. While alopecia is to be expected during chemotherapy, most cancer patients look forward to hair returning once treatment has stopped. But some patients are claiming docetaxel caused them to permanently lose hair and affected regrowth.
These claims aren’t just word-of-mouth; there is scientific evidence backing them up. A 2012 Annals of Oncology study involving 20 female breast cancer patients found an association between docetaxel and an increased risk of permanent alopecia. These 20 women all developed permanent alopecia — instead of the temporary condition normally associated with chemotherapy — after being treated with docetaxel. Researchers were able to rule out mineral deficiencies, thyroid disorder, and family history as a cause of the issue.
In other research, surveys questioned 189 cancer patients who received docetaxel. Of the surveys distributed, 134 came back and 21 participants reported ongoing hair loss. Researchers concluded, “Long term significant scalp alopecia (here lasting for up to 3.5 years following completion of chemotherapy) may affect 10-15% of patients following docetaxel for EBC [early breast cancer]. This appears to be unrelated to other patient and treatment characteristics.”
What This Means for Patients
Because the sample size of the first study mentioned here was relatively small and there was no control group, more research needs to be done to conclude a definite link between permanent hair loss and the cancer drug Taxotere.
Even so, several lawsuits have been filed against Sanofi-Aventis, the company behind Taxotere. The patients involved in these lawsuits assert that they were not warned about the possible risk of alopecia before agreeing to treatment with this drug. Given the research findings available, these patients have a strong case.
At Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C., we use our experience to offer top-notch, reliable, and relevant legal advice. If you or someone you know has been treated for cancer for docetaxel, we can help set things right. Attorney Jarrett Johnston is ready to stand by your side against Sanofi-Aventis. Reach out to us to get started.