Taxotere Hair Loss Patients Speak Out Over the Fallout

Washington, DCA recent filing by Taxotere manufacturer Sanofi Aventis with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed the current state of Taxotere hair loss lawsuits as of the end of the pharmaceutical’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

Sanofi, in its Form 20-F filing, noted that by the end of the year there were approximately
791 lawsuits (involving about 944 claimants and 868 ingesting plaintiffs) filed against affiliates of Sanofi under US state law for personal injuries allegedly sustained in connection with the use of Taxotere. The actions are held in several jurisdictions, including the federal and/or state courts of Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, California, and Delaware.

However, the numbers do not fully communicate the pain and suffering allegedly felt by Taxotere patients have already suffered through cancer treatments – only to experience the indignation of Docetaxel hair loss that was thought to be temporary.

With Taxotere, hair loss for some has proven to be permanent.

Taxotere (Docetaxel) is a chemotherapy drug originally indicated for treatment of breast cancer in women. While there are, and always have been equally effective cancer drugs available, Taxotere is billed as more robust and capable of treating cancer with fewer rounds of chemotherapy in less time. This affords patients pining for a faster treatment cycle and recovery, the option of treatment in a tighter time frame.

Hair loss within the context of chemotherapy is normal, and is expected. Equally expected is that a patient’s hair, once cancer treatment has concluded and the drugs stopped, would grow back over time.

This, however, has not been the case for a growing number of Taxotere patients who allege chronic Taxotere alopecia (hair loss).

The Cancer Survivors Network is an online blog maintained under the auspices of the American Cancer Society, and affords cancer patients a platform to reach out to one another, share stories and anecdotes, together with the giving and receiving of support in what is always a difficult road.

Taxotere hair loss makes a difficult time, even more so according to Taxotere patients dealing with the fallout of Docetaxel hair loss.

A blogger dubbed ‘ohilly’ opined in May, 2010 that she had undergone her last chemotherapy treatment in June of 2008. In just under two years her previously “naturally thick” hair had failed to return to its former robust health. While she claimed to have some hair, it proved very thin. “I have to disguise it with an expensive haircut and make-up (if anyone's interested, it's called “Hair So Real” and is natural kerotin (sic) fibers that you sprinkle on your head and it covers the thin spots),” she writes.

Another blogger, named Suzanne, writes on April 13 of this year that she had her last treatment with Taxotere in 2010. “And of course, I’m happy to be alive,” Suzanne writes, “but I am not happy being bald for the rest of my life.” The cancer survivor has been six years without hair, and has made every conceivable attempt to remedy the Docetaxel side effects. “I have spend (sic) thousands of dollars over the years trying various forms of snake oil, buying wigs, hats, scarves, having eye liner and brow tatoos (brows gone too and I have few eyelashes), seeing doctors, etc. I will not go outside my house without something on my head because the small amount of hair that did come back does NOT (sic) cover my head.

“Be aware and if Taxotere is recommended – ask your oncologist if this is the BEST and ONLY (sic) drug for you. Just sayin’…”

While Suzanne does not specifically mention if she is a participant in a Taxotere alopecia lawsuit, she nonetheless references the legal industry.

“It is so unfortunate that it takes legal action to get anyone to pay attention…”