Can a Pre-Existing Condition Affect My Taxotere Case? 

Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug primarily used to fight cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and stomach cancer. Unfortunately, the drug has been linked to the development of an eye condition called canalicular stenosis. Many cancer patients have been devastated to learn that as they fight for their lives, they are now also having to fight to save the health of their eyes.

If you developed canalicular stenosis or experienced severe adverse reactions on your nails after being treated with the chemotherapy drug Taxotere, you might be able to recover compensation. However, if you have pre-existing conditions, you may have questions about whether you can hold the pharmaceutical company accountable.

At Hotze Runkle PLLC, we want to answer that vital question.

What Is Canalicular Stenosis?

Canalicular stenosis is an eye condition that impacts the complicated duct system of the eyes. When you blink, a thin film of tears gets spread over your eye. These tears keep your eyes moisturized and can remove harmful dust and debris. Tears make it to your eyes via a network of sacs and canals. Canalicular stenosis impacts the canals called canaliculi by obstructing these passageways. Tears cannot pass through the channel and instead well up and run down the face.

Canalicular stenosis can cause:

• Persistent tearing and tears streaming down the face, ‘epiphora‘
• Blurry vision
• Headaches
• Dry eyes
• Infection
• Cystoid macular edema and vision loss

Canalicular stenosis can be permanent. In severe cases of the condition, surgery may be the only viable option for relief. Physicians can implant small glass tubes in the location of the canaliculus to restore the flow of tear drainage. However, the surgery isn’t without risks. Scarring, vision loss, infection, and rejection of the tubes can occur.

How Does Taxotere Cause Canalicular Stenosis?

Studies indicate that the drug Taxotere can cause the previously undisclosed side effect of canalicular stenosis. Taxotere can pass into an individual’s bodily fluids, including tears. It is believed that the presence of Taxotere in tears causes persistent irritation and inflammation to the tear ducts. Over time, this chronic inflammation leads to the development of canalicular stenosis.

A study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information finds that canalicular stenosis is more prevalent in patients receiving weekly treatments of Taxotere. However, patients receiving the drug less often are still at risk of developing the condition.

Taxotere has also been linked to permanent hair loss in some patients taking the drug. Hair loss is not limited to the hair on top of a person’s head. It can also include facial hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes.

Will Having a Pre-Existing Condition Affect My Taxotere Case?

You may have a pre-existing condition, but that doesn’t mean that the drug Taxotere didn’t take its toll on your health. It is true that having a pre-existing condition can make your case more challenging, but you may still have a claim against the manufacturer of the drug Taxotere.

If there is one thing a pharmaceutical company doesn’t want to lose, it’s profit. These companies are notoriously aggressive when battling lawsuits and will use any means possible to discredit claims against them. One of the tactics employed may be to argue that a pre-existing condition is responsible for your issues and not the drug Taxotere. It can be an effective tactic, but it can also be countered by an equally aggressive and tenacious product liability attorney.

A skilled attorney will advise your on how you can speak with your doctor and gather medical documentation and evidence that helps establish the link between Taxotere and its undisclosed side effects that you may now be experiencing. A pre-existing condition can complicate your claim. Yet, a seasoned lawyer will be able to help you build a compelling case demonstrating how your condition, either permanent hair loss or canalicular stenosis, may have been made worse by taking Taxotere.

Contact an Experienced Taxotere Attorney Today

You put your trust in your doctor. Your doctor put their trust in a pharmaceutical company that claimed its drug was safe. The pharmaceutical company responsible for the research, development, and manufacturing of Taxotere did not disclose that permanent hair loss or canalicular stenosis were potential side effects. Although you may have a pre-existing condition related to one of these side effects, you could still have a case against the manufacturer of Taxotere.

Visit our Video FAQ page for more information about how you can hold the maker of Taxotere accountable. While compensation may not reverse the effects of the drug, it can help cover your medical expenses and pain and suffering.

If you have been diagnosed with permanent hair loss or canalicular stenosis and have taken the drug Taxotere, contact Hotze Runkle PLLC to find out if you are eligible to file a lawsuit. We are working with patients from all across the country to bring the pharmaceutical company to justice.

Start by filling out our online case evaluation quiz. Our dedicated legal team will review your case and contact you about next steps. We want to help you recover the compensation you deserve.