A California woman has filed a Taxotere breast cancer hair loss lawsuit against drug maker Sanofi-Aventis, alleging the company’s intravenous chemo treatment caused her to suffer permanent hair loss.

Plaintiff Maria C. was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2003.

Following her diagnosis, she met with her oncologist to discuss treatment and underwent chemotherapy that included Taxotere.

Maria says that after completion of chemotherapy she suffered from disfiguring permanent alopecia, which, according to her breast cancer hair loss lawsuit, was a result of Taxotere.

Although hair loss is a common side effect related to chemotherapy drugs, permanent hair loss or alopecia is not.

In the breast cancer hair loss lawsuit, Sanofi-Aventis reportedly misled the plaintiff, the public, and the medical community to believe that, as with other chemotherapy drugs that cause hair loss, patients’ hair would grow back.

Likewise, the breast cancer hair loss lawsuit further alleges that Sanofi-Aventis engaged in a pattern of deception by overstating the benefits of Taxotere as compared to other alternatives while at the same time failing to warn of the risk of disfiguring permanent alopecia.

Because the words permanent alopecia or permanent hair loss do not appear on in any information published by the drug maker in the United States, thousands of women were exposed to the risk of disfiguring permanent alopecia without any warning.

Additionally, the breast cancer hair loss lawsuit alleges that the drug maker concealed the existence of studies from the FDA, physicians, and patients that refuted the drug maker’s claims.

Maria brings this Taxotere chemotherapy hair loss lawsuit on several counts that include product liability for negligence, manufacturing defect, failure to warn and extreme and outrageous conduct/intentional infliction of emotional distress.

She is seeking judgment against Sanofi-Aventis for her injuries, harms, damages and losses, as well as attorneys’ fees and court costs.  A jury trial has been demanded.

What is Taxotere?

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women.

Currently there are more than 2.8 million women with a history of breast cancer living in the U.S. It is estimated that 75% of these women were prescribed Taxotere for breast cancer treatment.

Taxotere is manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis and is an injectable concentrate chemotherapy drug approved for breast cancer treatment, non-small cell lung cancer, advanced stomach cancer, head and neck cancer and metastatic prostate cancer.

It is administered intravenously through the vein in a hospital and inhibits a cancer cell’s ability to divide and replicate itself. That ultimately leads to the cell’s death.

Common Taxotere chemo side effects include fluid retention, nausea, fatigue, and temporary hair loss.

However, there’s mounting evidence that more and more breast cancer treatment survivors are suffering from permanent hair loss after taking Taxotere.

There is no antidote for chemo-induced alopecia and Sanofi-Aventis, the pharmaceutical company behind Taxotere, allegedly refuses to disclose just how many people have become permanently bald as a result of the chemotherapy drug.

Additionally, a small study published in 2013 by the National Cancer Research Institute indicated that the 10 to 15 percent of of patients who had Taxotere chemo suffered from permanent hair loss, enough to warrant some warning from the drug’s manufacturer.

Taxotere Breast Cancer Hair Loss Lawsuit Information

Taxotere breast cancer hair loss lawsuits are being filed as more and more breast cancer treatment patients are finding more troubling information regarding the relationship between Taxotere and permanent loss of hair after chemo, and the manufacturer’s failure to warn doctors and patients of this risk.

If you or a family member have suffered permanent loss of hair after chemo after taking Taxotere for chemotherapy breast cancer treatment, you may have a case.  An experienced drug injury attorney can provide you with a free case evaluation and help you in pursuing compensation for your injuries.

The Taxotere Breast Cancer Hair Loss Lawsuit is Case No. 2:16-cv-06062 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.