A North Carolina woman recently added a new Taxotere lawsuit to the growing litigation against Sanofi Aventis over permanent hair loss from chemo treatment.

The plaintiff, Lori M., began her use of Taxotere during chemotherapy treatment in June 2013, continuing through September.

Like most other cancer patients, Lori went into chemotherapy knowing of the high possibility of hair loss, a condition known as alopecia. However, Lori and others like her generally expect that after chemo treatment is over, their hair will grow back. They don’t expect permanent hair loss from chemo.

Unfortunately, this was the case for Lori. After her Taxotere treatment had ended, Lori continued to suffer from disfiguring alopecia long after her hair should have grown back. Countless other cancer patients have also found themselves in this position.

While hair loss is hardly the worst part of a cancer diagnosis, to suffer disfiguring alopecia on top of everything else a cancer patient has to go through is harsh—especially given that many patients don’t know permanent hair loss from chemo is even a likelihood.

Lori filed her lawsuit on Aug. 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Her lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including failure to warn, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, and breach of express warranty, among others.

Background of Taxotere

Taxotere (also known by its generic name, docetaxel) is a popular chemotherapy drug manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Aventis. Taxotere was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 1996, over two decades ago. Taxotere still remains a popular choice today.

Unfortunately, despite its long history and wide use, Taxotere may actually come with permanent side effects.

Permanent Hair Loss from Chemo

Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is a common symptom associated with chemotherapy treatment; hair loss is certainly the most recognizable side effect cancer patients are forced to deal with.

While the majority cancer patients go into chemotherapy treatment already aware that they run a risk of losing their hair from the treatment, they generally expect that, after their chemotherapy treatment is over, their hair will eventually grow back.

Unfortunately, a growing number of cancer patients are discovering that this may not be the case, and have been left with permanent hair loss from chemo treatment with Taxotere. While some are unable to grow their hair back at all, others have been able to grow it only in clumps or patches. To note, permanent alopecia does not just affect hair on the head, but it can also affect all body hair.

Filing a Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has suffered from permanent hair loss from chemo treatment, either with Taxotere or another docetaxel medication, you may be able to gain some kind of financial compensation by joining a Taxotere lawsuit.

Filing a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering a cancer patient endures, or take away the effects of permanent hair loss from chemo, but it can help compensate for the financial expenses incurred by cancer treatment bills or even lost wages.

The Permanent Hair Loss From Chemo Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-08431-KDE-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.