A breast cancer survivor has filed a complaint alleging the drug Taxotere caused her to suffer permanent chemotherapy alopecia (hair loss).

Plaintiff Sheila E.’s lawsuit, filed on Nov. 19, 2018, joins approximately 8,600 similar cases that are now before a federal court in Louisiana.

Those cases involve complaints similar to Sheila’s – i.e., that Taxotere, the chemotherapy drug used to treat their cancer, resulted in the permanent destruction of their hair follicles. They allege that defendant Sanofi-Aventis, the company that created the drug, was aware of this side effect of the product and failed to warn patients and doctors of the risk of chemotherapy alopecia. 

Sheila’s Case

According to her complaint, Sheila underwent treatment for her breast cancer for a period of approximately 14 weeks, beginning in December 2014, and ending in mid-March, 2015. The treatment in question included the chemotherapy drug docetaxel, the generic version of the drug sold by Sanofi-Aventis as Taxotere.

Chemotherapy alopecia (hair loss) is a common side effect of cancer treatments; however, in most cases, hair begins to regrow once the course of treatment is completed. At some point following the end of Sheila’s chemotherapy, she says she noted that her hair was not growing back – and she realized that the chemotherapy alopecia was permanent.

About Taxotere

Also known by its scientific name, docetaxel anhydrous, Taxotere was initially approved by the FDA in 1996 for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. It is a synthetic version of a compound known as taxol, which is normally derived from yew bark.

Since its initial approval, Taxotere has been approved for additional indications, including non-small cell lung cancer and malignancies affecting the head and neck, stomach and prostate.

What Did the Defendant Know?

A study published in the journal Cancer Research in 2013 found that approximately 15 percent of women who undergo treatment with Taxotere experience irreversible chemotherapy alopecia. Significantly, drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis had issued its own warning regarding the risk of irreversible chemotherapy alopecia on his package labels in 2005. However, this warning appeared only on packaging for the product sold in Europe and Canada. No such warning was issued in the U.S. until December 2015.

Instead, prescribing information for Taxotere in the U.S. contained only a vague warning about the risks of chemotherapy alopecia: “Hair loss will begin after the first few treatments and varies from patient to patient. Once you have completed all your treatments, hair generally grows back.”

Psychological and Emotional Effects

While some have suggested that Taxotere patients who experience permanent chemotherapy alopecia should simply be grateful that the drug saved their lives, plaintiffs’ attorneys have noted that the psychological and emotional effects can be devastating, and even affect a person’s prospect for long-term recovery.

A 2001 study appearing in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology found that hair loss can result in “loss of self-confidence, low self-esteem, and heightened self-consciousness.”

According to a literature review published in Psychooncology in 2008, breast cancer survivors consistently identify chemotherapy alopecia as being among the most difficult side effects of their treatment, causing social anxiety and impacting their self-image – which in turn, negatively affects their ability to engage in social interactions.

If You Have Been Affected…

Mass litigation against Sanofi-Aventis over irreversible chemotherapy alopecia is currently underway in New Jersey and Louisiana. If you believe you have a Taxotere claim, you may be able to file your own lawsuit and join multi-county or multi-district litigation in the appropriate venue.

Plaintiff Sheila E.’s Chemotherapy Alopecia Lawsuit is part of MDL No. 2740, Case No. 2:16-md-02740-KDE-MBN, U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Louisiana.