Thousands of women are bald or have patchy, thinning hair after using popular breast cancer chemotherapy drug Taxotere. These effects can devastate cancer survivors, a reminder that stays visible for years after completing chemotherapy. Women wishing to file a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit can now join a multi-district litigation (MDL) and potentially settle faster. No offers are yet on the table, but the first four bellwether trials are set for early 2019.
Top 10 Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQs
If you’re a breast cancer survivor with persistent alopecia, you may qualify for compensation via a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit. But if you’re still on the fence about suing or unsure about what to expect, keep reading. Below, we’ll share the most common Taxotere hair loss lawsuit FAQs that women usually send us on Facebook.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #1: Why are women suing?
A: Cancer survivors are suing because their doctors didn’t warn them about the possibility of permanent or persistent hair loss with Taxotere. Taxotere’s manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, specifically left this off the drug’s warning label, despite several studies proving it could make patients go bald. The FDA first approved Taxotere to treat breast cancer in 1996. In 2010, researchers published the GEICAM 9805 study. This five-year study found permanent alopecia was a significant risk in Taxotere patients. Almost 10% of women participating in the study suffered permanent, irreversible hair loss. This affected all body parts, including scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, and wherever else women normally grew hair. Despite knowing this devastating side effect was a possibility, Sanofi failed to update U.S. labels until 2016.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #2: If the choice is between losing your hair or your life, wouldn’t you take Taxotere anyway?
A: It’s true that Taxotere provides life-saving chemotherapy benefits. (Especially when combined with other drugs.) But studies proved Taxotere’s near-identical competitor, Taxol, even more effective for treating breast cancer. Even better, Taxol doesn’t cause permanent hair loss and costs less than Taxotere. Because Sanofi failed to warn U.S. physicians about alopecia risks, patients could not give informed consent or explore all treatment options.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #3: Taxotere saved my life — why would I sue?
A: Even if Taxotere was part of your life-saving chemo cocktail, you should still consider filing a claim. Speaking out against injustice (like Sanofi’s failure to warn patients about all drug risks) helps protect others. It deters big pharma companies (like Sanofi) from putting profits first before patients. It also holds them accountable for actions that specifically singled out U.S. patients, since women everywhere else had warnings. Sanofi failed to update U.S. labels until the FDA got involved in 2016. These updates came only after the FDA forced them to add a black box warning label. Yet Sanofi began warning patients outside the U.S. back in 2005. For 11 years, U.S. breast cancer patients had no idea this devastating effect could change their looks forever.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #4: I can’t remember if I took Taxotere or the generic version (docetaxel). Can I still join the MDL?
A: Yes! Both brand-name Taxotere and generic docetaxel claims can join the federal MDL. Both formulas are the same, and 75% of breast cancer patients receive one or the other. So if you aren’t sure which version you took, ask your doctor to pull your treatment records. To confirm you qualify to join the MDL, answer “yes” to the third question on our claim review form.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #5: How long do I have to think about it before it’s too late to sue?
A: Every state has a unique statute of limitations for product liability cases like these. A statute of limitations defines how much time you have left to still file a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit. Once it expires, your chance to claim a cash settlement from Sanofi ends. Not sure what your state’s law says? Fill out the form linked on this page and a lawyer will call to explain your options. You can also get private, confidential answers to your questions over the phone for free.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #6: Don’t these lawsuits make cancer drugs more expensive (or discourage companies from creating new ones)? I don’t want that!
A: This commonly asked question is actually a myth. Dr. David Belk, M.D. sheds light on this issue, showing drug companies spend most money on marketing, not R&D. The U.S. big pharma industry puts profit above all else, including breakthrough cancer drug research. Your Taxotere hair loss lawsuit cannot make cancer drugs cost more for patients in the future. These companies put millions aside in their annual litigation budgets just to settle lawsuits like these.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #7: I have no idea where to find a good lawyer or have any money to pay for one. Now what?
A: We can help solve that problem! To get started, fill out your free online Taxotere claim evaluation now. It takes less than two minutes to confirm you qualify to file a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit. Once you submit your information, we’ll match you with a qualified Taxotere attorney near you. This service doesn’t require you to file a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit, and it costs you nothing. Our lawyers work on contingency, so they never get paid until you do.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #8: Will I have to testify in court or show/let jurors touch my scalp? Because I’m really not comfortable doing that.
A: No, you don’t have to testify before a jury. The great thing about an MDL is you almost certainly won’t have to appear in court, either. There’s one exception: If a judge selects your case for a bellwether trial, you’ll likely have to testify. But at this point, the chances of that happening are slim (if not impossible). The Taxotere MDL’s first bellwether trials are already set for 2019.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #9: I had hair regrowth after finishing chemo, but it’s thin/patchy/I have a bald spot/my eyelashes and eyebrows never fully came back. Does my case qualify?
A: Yes! You can still qualify with partial hair loss or patchy regrowth after finishing Taxotere treatment. Some women with delayed hair regrowth may also have eligible claims. Of course, how much hair you’ve lost may affect your compensation amount. Still, it likely won’t affect your ability to join the MDL.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit FAQ #10: How much money can I expect if my case wins?
A: Sanofi hasn’t agreed to pay any settlements yet, so it’s difficult to predict how much money you could get. However, bellwether trials are scheduled for 2019. Once the first few juries rule on those cases, it should shed some light on how much is possible.
Related: Chemo Hair Loss Stopped Cold With Protein Shot, Study Shows
Mandy Voisin
Mandy Voisin is a freelance writer, blogger, and author of Girls of the Ocean and Star of Deliverance. As an accomplished content marketing consultant, mom of four and doctor's wife, Mandy has written hundreds of articles about dangerous drugs and medical devices, medical issues that impact disabled Americans, veterans' healthcare and workers' compensation issues since 2016.