The defective drug attorneys of Hotze Runkle PLLC are currently accepting cases for people in Maine who’ve been harmed by Taxotere, a chemotherapy drug. Did you receive Taxotere treatment for chemotherapy? Have you developed troubling symptoms, such as excessive eye-watering? You may be entitled to significant compensation.
Taxotere, which is the brand name version of docetaxel, is a dangerous chemotherapy drug that is believed to cause canalicular stenosis, a serious eye condition. Symptoms of canalicular stenosis include epiphora (excessive tearing) and eye irritation. While this condition may be reversed when caught early, advanced cases can cause permanent harm.
If you developed this condition due to Taxotere treatment, you shouldn’t have to pay out-of-pocket for surgery or related expenses. You have a right to hold drug manufacturers accountable for their negligence and demand financial compensation.
Our legal team is currently investigating claims for current or former cancer patients in Maine who developed eye problems after receiving Taxotere treatment. To learn if you are eligible to file a lawsuit, take our case evaluation quiz. If you decide to pursue compensation, our attorneys will be ready to take aggressive legal action.
What Is Taxotere? Does It Have Side Effects?
Taxotere, also known as docetaxel, is an FDA-approved chemotherapy drug that is often used for those suffering from breast cancer. It is manufactured and marketed by Sanofi-Aventis, a major pharmaceutical company. While it’s primarily used to treat breast cancer, it has also been used for prostate cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, and head/neck cancer.
The drug works by interfering with the cancer cells’ supporting structure, which inhibits their ability to divide and spread throughout the body. Taxotere is administered intravenously, typically on a weekly basis. However, patients may also receive treatment every two weeks, every three weeks, or for another duration.
Some of the most common side effects include:
- Fatigue
- Fluid retention
- Numbness in fingers and toes
- Mouth sores and bleeding gums
- Nausea
- Changes to the fingernails
While these side effects are minor, some Taxotere patients develop more troubling side effects, such as excessive eye-watering. This is indicative of canalicular stenosis, which is a narrowing of the tear duct system’s opening.
What Is Canalicular Stenosis? Can It be Treated?
The lacrimal gland, which is located near the eyes, continuously releases basal tears in order to protect the eyes from dirt and debris. Throughout this process, the tears pass through small channels – called canaliculi – into the tear duct.
When canalicular stenosis occurs, these tiny channels are narrowed, causing tears to overflow and fall down the cheeks.
These are the main symptoms of canalicular stenosis:
- Excessive tearing and eye-watering, also called epiphora
- Blurry vision
- Eyelid swelling
- Infection and eye irritation
When canalicular stenosis is caught early, it may be reversed by temporarily implanting silicone tubes into the canalicular system. This creates a new drainage system while the eye heals. The tubes are removed after a few months.
If canalicular stenosis is not treated early, the condition is irreversible. In this case, permanent glass tubes must be placed to open the drainage system. There is a slight risk that the tubes will migrate or be rejected by the body. As a result, this procedure requires long-term monitoring and may also require revision surgeries.
How Does Taxotere Cause Canalicular Stenosis?
While research is still ongoing, there is a clear link between canalicular stenosis and Taxotere. In 150 patients who received docetaxel therapy, many of them developed some level of canalicular duct obstruction, according to a study. The obstruction was so severe that 30 of these patients ended up having surgery to treat their excessive eye-watering.
In this study, a significant finding was that early treatment is crucial for preventing further narrowing of the ducts. When canalicular stenosis is treated early with the placement of silicone tubes, patients can avoid more involved procedures, such as the permanent placement of glass tubes.
A similar study, which reviewed the progress of three breast cancer patients, found that they all developed canalicular stenosis and/or excessive eye-watering. Two of the patients still had excessive eye-watering months after discontinuing docetaxel treatment. This is another instance where Taxotere clearly caused irreversible damage to the canalicular system. Researchers in this study also noted the importance of early intervention. They suggested that patients undergoing docetaxel treatment should be regularly monitored for canalicular stenosis.
What Are My Legal Options If I Suspect Taxotere Caused Canalicular Stenosis?
When you underwent chemotherapy, you trusted your healthcare providers to protect your health and well-being. You probably didn’t expect to have more health problems, on top of dealing with the aftermath of cancer treatment.
Unfortunately, oncologists and other healthcare professionals were not made aware that Taxotere causes permanent harm. If they had known that your symptoms were indicative of irreversible damage, they likely would have intervened quickly.
Sanofi-Aventis, the manufacturer of Taxotere, had a duty to rigorously test their drugs before releasing them. If drugs like Taxotere were found to cause dangerous side effects, then healthcare providers and consumers should have been properly warned. You have a right to demand compensation from Sanofi-Aventis if Taxotere is to blame for your eye problems.
Current or former cancer patients in Maine who suspect Taxotere caused canalicular stenosis should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Pursuing compensation on your own is very difficult, especially when going after drug manufacturers who have virtually unlimited resources.
An attorney can help you:
- File a lawsuit before the deadline, also known as the “statute of limitations”
- Conduct a full investigation to prove Sanofi-Aventis was responsible for your injuries
- Hire relevant experts to testify on your behalf
- Document your ongoing damages
- Demand the highest compensation available
At Hotze Runkle PLLC, our experienced legal team has upheld the rights of those harmed by dangerous drugs. With our help, you can seek justice and secure the compensation you’re entitled to.
Compensation Available for Maine Chemo Eye Lawsuits
Every Taxotere lawsuit is different, so there is not a set amount of compensation awarded for these cases. Your compensation will depend on your damages, which is a legal term that means your extent of harm.
Compensation in Taxotere lawsuits typically covers:
- Related Medical Costs: Did your canalicular stenosis require surgery? If you paid out-of-pocket for any medical care related to your eye condition, this will be taken into consideration when determining your compensation. Financial compensation can also cover any medical costs in the future related to your condition, such as revision surgeries or long-term monitoring.
- Lost Wages: Did you have to miss work due to canalicular stenosis? Some symptoms of this condition are so severe that they interfere with the ability to work. Compensation can cover any lost income that you’ve incurred or will incur in the future due to your eye condition.
- Pain and Suffering: Dealing with a permanent eye condition, on top of having cancer, is difficult to bear. And the effects aren’t just financial. You’ve likely experienced a great deal of pain and suffering as well. The legal term for this is “general damages,” which is any non-economic harm you’ve endured as a result of your condition.
How Our Attorneys Can Help You Take Legal Action
If you suspect you developed canalicular stenosis after Taxotere treatment, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. There are strict deadlines that dictate when you can file a lawsuit against drug manufacturers. After this deadline has passed, the court will bar you from filing suit.
The experienced attorneys of Hotze Runkle PLLC can protect your rights and take aggressive legal action against Sanofi-Aventis. Our legal team will:
- Conduct a Full Investigation: We won’t hesitate to immediately investigate how your condition developed, and who was liable. Determining liability is crucial for pursuing the highest compensation available.
- Use All Resources Necessary: Pharmaceutical companies have access to virtually unlimited resources to defend their interests. And they’re counting on the fact that the average person is too intimidated to pursue litigation against a large corporation. We won’t let that happen. Our law firm has access to top-notch experts and other resources so we can build the strongest case possible.
- Demand the Highest Compensation Available: Our attorneys understand the unique challenges you might be facing. Even if you’ve recovered from cancer, you’re now left with another condition that requires costly, uncomfortable treatment. This is why our number-one goal is to secure the compensation you deserve, and not a penny less. We have a proven track record of obtaining sizable settlements and verdicts for victims just like you.
Do You Have an Eligible Taxotere Claim?
Are you currently suffering from some degree of canalicular stenosis? Have you received Taxotere chemotherapy treatment, either recently or in the past? If so, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek compensation.
Our law firm is currently investigating claims for patients who received Taxotere weekly, every two weeks, every three weeks, and other treatment regimens. To see if you have a valid claim, take our case evaluation quiz here. We will be ready to fight on your behalf if you decide to pursue legal action.