A breast cancer survivor is suing the makers of Taxotere because she has suffered from permanent hair loss after chemotherapy.

Diagnosed in August 2014 with invasive cancer in her left breast, Plaintiff Carole B. underwent a lumpectomy.

Follow-up discussions with her oncologist regarding adjuvant chemotherapy treatment led her to the conclusion that Taxotere was right for her.

From mid-October 2014 through December 2014, Carole received four Taxotere treatments.

Carole and her healthcare providers were aware that chemotherapy treatments could cause temporary hair loss, they were not aware, nor were they told by Taxotere, that she could suffer from permanent hair loss after chemotherapy.

Taxotere Manufacturer Accused of Concealing Facts

Taxotere leaves 3 to 9 percent of women with permanent hair loss after chemotherapy.

The drug’s manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, is accused of knowing of the possibility of permanent hair loss, but not sharing the knowledge of this risk with consumers and health care providers in the United States.

Regulatory agencies in the European Union and Canada were advised that Taxotere causes an increased risk of permanent hair loss after chemotherapy.

The United States audience was only told that “hair generally grows back” after Taxotere treatments.

Women often opted for the Taxotere treatment because only four to six treatments were required; other chemotherapy options included 12 treatments.

However, many women – including the plaintiff – say they would have opted for more treatments and a nearly zero percent chance of permanent hair loss.

As early as 2005, Sanofi-Aventis knew of a study that showed that 9.2 percent of Taxotere patients suffered alopecia (hair loss) for up to 10 years and five months, sometimes even longer.

Despite several label changes and safety warnings since 1995, the drug’s manufacturer failed to use the words permanent alopecia or permanent hair loss in any publications used in the United States until December 2015.

In 2006, a Denver oncologist reported he had observed 6.3 percent of his Taxotere patients suffer from permanent and disfiguring hair loss for years following ending the treatment.

Permanent Hair Loss After Chemotherapy

Carole claims to suffer serious and severe and personal injuries that are permanent. Her past and future medical expenses, psychological counseling and therapy expenses, past and future loss of earnings, plus past and future loss and impairment of earning capacity are all a result of Taxotere’s permanent hair loss after chemotherapy.

Women who suffer permanent hair loss after chemotherapy not only have bald heads, but are hairless everywhere. No eyebrows, eyelashes or body hair grows. The psychological effects are paramount.

Sanofi-Aventis promoted Taxotere as a better alternative to other chemotherapy treatments, when in reality, it allegedly was only more concentrated and dangerous.

The Taxotere Permanent Hair Loss After Chemotherapy Lawsuit is Case No. 2:16-cv-02607 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.