Did you complete, or are you currently undergoing chemotherapy with Taxotere? Did you develop unexpected and irritating side effects? If so, contact a Taxotere lawyer at Hotze Runkle PLLC to find out how we can help you get justice and fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
Cancer patients and survivors throughout the country have reported the diagnosis of Canalicular Stenosis. It causes various symptoms, some that can be debilitating. Unfortunately, adverse side effects are common while treating cancer with Taxotere. Many people suffer physical, emotional, and financial harm due to these side effects. This is something that should never happen to innocent people, and particularly those who are already in a battle for their health and lives.
Our Des Moines lawyers have the experience and resources necessary to help you get justice if Taxotere harmed you. Call us at (800) 763-6155 or reach out online to schedule a free case evaluation. We represent clients on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you won’t owe us anything until we recover compensation for your Taxotere injury claim.
What is Canalicular Stenosis?
Canalicular Stenosis is an ocular condition resulting from inflammation of the canaliculus. This vital structure is supposed to allow tears into the nasal cavity from the tear duct. However, chronic inflammation and infections can cause obstructions that block this passageway. When that happens, tears end up collecting on the eye’s surface and getting released when the person blinks. It can become a permanent medical issue without the proper treatment.
Excessive and uncontrollable eye-watering is known as epiphora. This is typically one of the first symptoms people notice while they’re still undergoing a round of chemo with Taxotere. If a doctor doesn’t intervene to manage this symptom and prevent it from worsening, Canalicular Stenosis develops and leads to additional symptoms, such as:
- Watery eyes
- Blurry or cloudy vision
- Eyelid swelling
- Eye infections
- Dry eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Central vision loss
During studies, medical researchers found a possible link between a patient’s tears and Taxotere. They discovered that when Taxotere interacts with fluids in the body, including tears, and then the affected tears drain through the canaliculus, the canaliculus becomes inflamed. If nothing is done to alleviate the inflammation, obstructions begin to form and block tears from passing through.
As Canalicular Stenosis progresses, the canaliculi in one or both eyes can become obstructed to the point where they partially or fully close. Once that happens, the condition is permanent. These vital eye structures can’t open back up at that point. You could seek treatment with an ophthalmologist to manage your symptoms, but it requires undergoing an expensive and invasive surgery.
How to Treat Canalicular Stenosis
Two treatments are available to direct tears around the obstructed canaliculus and alleviate your watery eyes and other symptoms you’ve been experiencing. During dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), the surgeon will use adjacent structures near the eye to create a tunnel where tears can flow to the nasal cavity as usual. The doctor might use a stent to keep that passageway open, so any progression of the medical condition won’t reverse the effects of the surgery.
Some patients aren’t able to undergo DCR because viable structures aren’t available to create a new passageway. If that happens, a doctor might be able to perform a surgery called conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR). Instead of creating a tunnel to redirect tears around the damaged canaliculus, the surgeon uses a small glass tube called a Jones tube to facilitate the proper flow of tears.
These surgeries have a pretty high success rate but can lead to side effects that range from mild to severe:
- Sinusitis
- Blindness
- Damaged tissue and other facial structures
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Migrating or displaced stent
- Chronic eye infections
- Abnormally fused tissue
- Facial scarring
You should discuss your options at length with your oncologist and an ophthalmologist. You can continue to treat your cancer, but it would be best if you stop taking Taxotere. Your doctors will monitor your health and do what they can to avoid additional symptoms from developing so your condition doesn’t get any worse than it already is.
Do I Have to Stop Chemo to Get DCR or CDCR?
No. You can continue chemotherapy while you’re treating your Canalicular Stenosis symptoms. Notify your oncologist of the procedure you’re having, and they can determine another drug to give you during chemo.
The ophthalmologist will perform a complete evaluation of your health, medical history, and symptoms to determine which surgical option would be best for your condition. Even though you’re dealing with adverse side effects, it doesn’t change the fact that you have cancer and should focus on those treatments also.
If your symptoms have become a daily nuisance and you’re unable to complete routine tasks, your doctor might be able to insert a temporary stent. That can stop tears from traveling to the damaged canaliculus and redirect them to the nasal cavity. Once you finish chemo, your doctor will remove the stent around six to eight weeks later.
Proving the Drug Company Is Liable
Sanofi-Aventis is a pharmaceutical company that began manufacturing Taxotere in 1996. They developed it to treat head cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, and other cancer types. It was administered orally or intravenously once a week, once every other week, or once every three weeks.
It locates cancer cells, attacks them, and prevents them from spreading to other parts of the body. Despite its success in treating multiple forms of cancer, there were unusual side effects the doctors and their patients weren’t aware of. Cancer patients and survivors nationwide have filed lawsuits against the drug company, stating that Sanofi knew about the harmful reaction between Taxotere and a patient’s tears but failed to mention it on their warning labels.
When you file a lawsuit, you could pursue a range of losses that you might have suffered, such as:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity
- Out of pocket expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Medical bills and out of pocket expenses are pretty easy to calculate. There are billing statements, receipts, and invoices we could use to determine the right amount of money you need to cover these losses. However, disfigurement and emotional distress are a little harder to monetize. Our Des Moines Taxotere Canalicular Stenosis attorneys will consider various factors to place an appropriate value on your case.
Take Our Taxotere Quiz Today
Hotze Runkle PLLC is ready to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve for the pain and suffering you were forced to endure. The drug company’s actions were negligent and caused injuries to a lot of people. You have the right to file a lawsuit against them and seek a monetary award for your past and future losses.
Take our Taxotere Evaluation Quiz to find out if you qualify for a case.