Taxotere chemotherapy treatments for breast cancerhave been allegedly causing women to permanently lose their hair, adding to the devastation of their diagnosis.

One of these women recently filed legal action against Sanofi Aventis, alleging the company failed to warn her that Taxotere chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer could cause her to develop permanent alopecia.

Plaintiff Teresa R. and husband Brian R. jointly filed a Taxotere lawsuit, alleging the chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer had permanently impacted their marriage and quality of life.

Like millions of other women in the United States, Teresa had been diagnosed with breast cancer and discussed different treatments for breast cancer with her oncologist.

According to the Taxotere lawsuit, Teresa’s Taxotere chemotherapy regimen had started on July 6, 2012 and continued through Sept. 5, 2012. During the course of this treatment period, Teresa had allegedly developed permanent hair loss.

Teresa says she has since been unable to regrow her hair, and continues to contend with the emotional impact of permanent alopecia.

Teresa and Brian opted to file legal action against Sanofi Aventis, after discovering that other women had also developed permanent hair loss from Taxotere chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer.

In addition, Teresa alleges that Sanofi Aventis knew about the risk of Taxotere alopecia for years based on the fact that European labeling alerted patients to this side effect years before the same information appeared on U.S. labeling.

Overview of Taxotere Chemotherapy Problems

The alleged correlation between permanent alopecia and Taxotere chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer was publicized in December 2015, when the FDA issued a label change for the medication.

The agency issued this change after receiving injury reports indicating the chemotherapy drug could cause permanent hair loss in patients. Previously, the Taxotere warning label stated that hair “generally grows back” after all treatments have been completed, but this has not been the case according to a number of patients.

Taxotere and other chemotherapy drugs work by targeting and inhibiting the reproductive functions of fast-growing cells, which often means hair follicles are among the first groups of cells to be targeted. This makes chemotherapy hair loss very common. But permanent alopecia is a rarer event that plaintiffs say should be plainly noted on the drug’s warning label.

Even though permanent alopecia can be devastating to patients, plaintiffs claim Sanofi Aventis allegedly failed to disclose this information to the general public. At all times relevant, Teresa says that she and her oncologist had relied on the product information and marketing materials provided by the company.

Teresa states she would not have agreed to Taxotere treatment, if she had known permanent hair loss was a risk. Teresa’s Taxotere lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2740, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging permanent hair loss was caused by Taxotere chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer.

By joining an MDL, Teresa’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Teresa and Brian are seeking damages in their Taxotere lawsuit for claims including negligence and loss of consortium.

This Taxotere Lawsuit is Case 2:18-cv-09676-JTM-MBN, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Louisiana.