Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug well-known for treating breast cancer. Numerous lawsuits filed against the manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, however, highlight its many dangerous side effects. Cancer patients and survivors have come forward with complaints of irritating symptoms, such as excessive tearing, swollen eyelids, and blurry vision. Those symptoms are the result of a permanent medical condition, called canalicular stenosis.
If you’re experiencing excessive tearing or other unusual symptoms, you should contact the Philadelphia Taxotere lawsuit attorneys from Hotze Runkle PLLC. We might be able to help you pursue compensation from Sanofi-Aventis for the suffering you had to endure after your Taxotere treatment.
No one who’s battled cancer should suddenly find themselves facing a new diagnosis that causes debilitating symptoms. Whether you were treated with Taxotere once a week, once every two weeks, or once every three weeks, you’re entitled to file a lawsuit for the adverse reaction that resulted.
To learn more about pursuing a lawsuit for your condition, take our Taxotere Quiz.
What Are Epiphora and Canalicular Stenosis?
Epiphora is the excessive and consistent watering of the eyes. Cancer patients discovered this symptom during their chemo treatment with Taxotere. When small tubes located in the ocular cavity, called canaliculi, functions as they should, tears pass through them into the nasal cavity. If those structures become infected from chronic inflammation, an obstruction can develop.
Without the proper diagnosis and management of your symptoms, the canaliculi can partially or fully close, resulting in canalicular stenosis. When your canaliculi are obstructed, the tears cannot funnel through them to the nasal cavity. Instead, they build up on the surface of the eye and get released upon blinking. Canalicular stenosis is a severe medical condition with no current cure. The diagnosis is permanent, but you could try to manage your symptoms with an invasive procedure.
Canalicular stenosis symptoms usually include:
- Cystoid macular edema
- Eyelid swelling
- Clouding of the eye lens
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Excessive tearing
- Headaches
- Dry eyes
- Eye infections and irritation
Symptoms of canalicular stenosis range from mild to severe. Some patients experience just one symptom, while others experience all of them. It can diminish one’s quality of life and prevent those effected from working and performing routine tasks, such as driving, reading, or watching TV.
How Taxotere Causes Canalicular Stenosis in Cancer Patients
Sanofi-Aventis created Taxotere for cancer treatment to prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading throughout the body. The regimen depends on the type of disease and how advanced it is. Although used to treat cancers of the neck, head, stomach, lungs, prostate, and chest, it is most commonly used to treat breast cancer.
Studies from medical researchers showed the dangerous correlation between Taxotere and canalicular stenosis symptoms. Secretions from the drug come in direct contact with tears as they travel into the nasal cavity through the canaliculus. The interaction leads to chronic inflammation and infection that results in various symptoms.
Treating Symptoms of Epiphora and Canalicular Stenosis
It’s possible to manage epiphora and canalicular stenosis symptoms if caught early enough. As soon as you start to experience excessive tearing, you should seek care from an ophthalmologist. If they determine your epiphora is the direct result of Taxotere, they can treat your symptoms and prevent the epiphora from developing into a more serious medical condition.
If you don’t treat your symptoms and wait too long to seek the help of a medical professional, your symptoms could turn into an irreversible ocular condition. Canalicular stenosis is permanent and can lead to problems down the road. There’s no cure, but you can try to manage your symptoms with the successful completion of DCR.
Dacryocystorhinostomy is an invasive surgery performed on the structures of the eye. A doctor drills a hole into adjacent bone structures for tears to bypass the damaged canaliculus. Some situations require the placement of a stent to facilitate the flow of tears.
Sometimes the surgery is successful; however, it can also cause problems worse than canalicular stenosis. The risks associated with DCR include:
- Bleeding excessively during and after surgery
- Severe facial scarring
- Displaced stent
- Partial or total blindness
- Eye infections
- Ineffective procedure
- Abnormally fused tissue
If you treat your symptoms the second you notice them, you could potentially avoid disfigurement or a disability that prevents you from living your life as you once did. Allowing your condition to progress can cause a lifetime of pain and emotional trauma. The best way to avoid an advanced diagnosis is with intervention by an ophthalmologist to manage your symptoms.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against Sanofi-Aventis?
Sanofi-Aventis spent time marketing their chemo drug for years before releasing the dangerous side effects to the public. A former employee accused them of paying doctors to prescribe Taxotere for treatments the FDA didn’t approve. Allegations that the pharmaceutical company knew of the adverse reactions also led to an onslaught of lawsuits.
If you’re considering filing a lawsuit against a multi-million dollar corporation, it could seem like a huge undertaking. Companies like Sanofi-Aventis hold a duty to create safe products for consumers. The manufacturer’s disregard for the safety of its patients is entirely unethical.
If you believe Taxotere caused symptoms you didn’t know could develop, you might be entitled to pursue legal action against Sanofi-Aventis. The side effects of a drug that’s supposed to cure your breast cancer are debilitating. If you’re suffering, unable to work, and incurring medical bills, you need the help of a Philadelphia Taxotere lawsuit lawyer. You deserve to stand up against the party that caused your suffering and win the maximum financial award available.
How Can Hotze Runkle PLLC Help Me?
It might seem like you’ll save money by filing a lawsuit without retaining a law firm. However, finding an experienced lawyer to help you in your lawsuit could end up being beneficial to your case. Victims of product liability usually don’t know their rights or how to start the process of suing someone. With the help of Hotze Runkle PLLC, you won’t be alone during this difficult experience.
Trial lawyers know how to secure evidence proving that your Taxotere treatment caused your canalicular stenosis diagnosis. We can navigate the complicated legal road and make sure we don’t miss any strict deadlines. When you hire us, we’ll make sure we perform a complete investigation into your claim and provide the court with the necessary documentation.
In Pennsylvania, you need to follow a statute of limitations in a product liability case. If you want to file a lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis, you must adhere to a two-year statute of limitations. That means you have two years from the date you first developed canalicular stenosis symptoms after Taxotere chemo to pursue a civil case. If you miss the deadline, you won’t be able to sue the drug company to compensate you for your damages.
The Value of Your Taxotere Lawsuit Case
When you hire one of our Philadelphia Taxotere lawsuit lawyers, we will review the details of your case to determine the monetary award you deserve. According to product liability laws, you could potentially recover compensation for all damages related to your diagnosis and treatment.
There are two types of damages injured individuals incur: economic and non-economic. The economic damages you can recover include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and loss of future income
- Out of pocket costs
The non-economic damages available in a lawsuit include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional or psychological distress
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Different factors can determine the dollar amount of your non-economic damages. A jury will review the following information to decide how much compensation you deserve:
- Your age
- Your symptoms
- If any symptoms or resulting injuries are permanent
- Medical treatment needed
- If the symptoms affected your ability to perform daily tasks
- The physical and mental trauma experienced
- Your physical health and medical conditions before your diagnosis of canalicular stenosis
- The severity of any disfigurement caused by your reaction to Taxotere
Fight Against Big Pharma with the Help of Hotze Runkle PLLC
The Philadelphia Taxotere lawsuit lawyers from Hotze Runkle PLLC have experience handling product liability cases like yours. We have a legal team committed to providing legal services you can depend on. We know you’re struggling to deal with your diagnosis while looking for the means to pay for your treatment. Let us relieve your burden and handle the legal process for you so you can focus on recovery.
If you want to discuss your symptoms caused by Taxotere, we can schedule a free consultation. We’ll meet with you to review all the details of your case and advise you on the options you have to seek compensation from Sanofi-Aventis. We understand time is of the essence. We will work diligently to resolve your case favorably and promptly.
To find out if your case qualifies for a lawsuit, take our Taxotere Evaluation Quiz today.