If you are living with permanent hair loss (alopecia) after chemotherapy for breast cancer, Taxotere (docetaxel) may be to blame. Lawsuits allege that Taxotere maker Sanofi-Aventis knew that its drug carried the risk of causing permanent hair loss, but chose not to warn doctors or patients, in the U.S., about the danger, even while it was warning doctors and patients in other countries.
To make matters worse, Sanofi claimed that Taxotere was more effective than its less toxic competitor Taxol (paclitaxel). Those claims resulted in a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 2009, for misbranding.
Compensation for Taxotere Hair Loss
You may be able to recover substantial compensation for Taxotere hair loss. Although alopecia is not a life-threatening injury, it is emotionally devastating for many women and has a severe impact on quality of life. Permanent alopecia can negatively impact breast cancer survivors in many ways including:
- Lowered self-esteem
- Loss of privacy
- Apprehension or unwillingness to return to work
- Altered sense of self
- Body image problems
- Anxiety and distress
- Avoidance of social activities
- Severe depression
Taxotere hair loss lawsuits are not based on the side effects alone, but on the fact that Sanofi-Aventis failed to warn doctors and patients about the side effects, and claimed that its drug was more effective than the safer alternative. Women who are suffering from Taxotere-induced alopecia were not told that they could choose a safer and more effective drug.
If you or someone you love is suffering from permanent hair loss after chemotherapy with Taxotere, please talk to an experienced defective drug attorney right away to learn more about your rights and potential compensation.
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