Did you get diagnosed with epiphora or canalicular stenosis? Were you on a Taxotere chemotherapy regimen at the time, or had you already completed one? If so, contact Hotze Runkle PLLC for help pursuing the financial compensation you deserve. The well-known chemotherapy drug used to treat various forms of cancer could lead to adverse side effects and a permanent eye condition.
Medical researchers performed multiple studies and found the link between Taxotere and canalicular stenosis. They discovered that the drug’s secretions pass into bodily fluids, such as tears. The Taxotere-tainted tears, in turn, can cause ocular tubes called canaliculi – which drain tears from the eyes – to become inflamed. Chronic inflammation and infection cause these eye structures to become scarred and obstructed, leading to a build-up of tears in the eyes.
Excessive eye-watering, or epiphora, is one of the first symptoms of canalicular stenosis, and if it’s not treated right away, it could develop into a more severe medical problem. If you’re suffering from canalicular stenosis as a result of your Taxotere treatment, you likely have legal options. Take our quiz to learn more.
How Epiphora and Canalicular Stenosis Develop
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis created Taxotere to treat a range of cancers. The drug is effective at targeting cancer cells, shrinking them, and preventing them from growing. Many patients respond well to the treatment; however, it can come with unusual side effects. Epiphora, or excessive eye-watering, is usually the first one people notice.
Studies, again, show that the drug’s secretions come in direct contact with tears, which funnel through the canaliculus and into the nasal cavity. That interaction leads to inflammation of the tube, which blocks tears from traveling through it as usual. Chronic inflammation that’s left untreated results in infections that can close the vital eye structure altogether.
If a healthcare professional doesn’t intervene soon after symptoms appear, epiphora can develop into canalicular stenosis. This is an irreversible and permanent ocular condition. It’s crucial that you seek treatment with an ophthalmologist as soon as you notice any of the following symptoms during or after Taxotere chemo treatment:
- Excessive eye-watering
- Headaches
- Eye infections
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred or clouded vision
- Dry eyes
- Swollen eyelids
If the canaliculi close entirely, your tears won’t have anywhere else to go except out of your eyes. This eye-watering can interfere with daily life and prevent you from performing routine tasks. With early medical intervention, you could prevent this condition from worsening and effectively manage your symptoms.
How to Treat Canalicular Stenosis
Canalicular stenosis isn’t curable. It’s a permanent condition; however, there’s a procedure available to manage symptoms. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is an expensive and invasive surgery that involves creating a passageway with existing structures to allow tears to travel from the eyes. In some situations, the surgeon might place a stent to facilitate the flow of tears into the nasal cavity. That will allow the tears to bypass the obstructed canaliculus, so they don’t build up on the surface of the eye and get released upon blinking.
While surgery can effectively manage the symptoms of canalicular stenosis, there’s a range of risks, including:
- Facial scars
- Uncontrollable hemorrhaging
- Blindness
- Infections
- Displaced or migrating stent
- Tissue damage
- Sinusitis
In some patients, the condition is too severe to perform DCR successfully. If one or both canaliculi become too obstructed to create a new passageway for tears, CDCR might be an option. During conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy, the doctor places a small glass tube called a Jones tube over the obstructed canaliculus to redirect tears around the damaged structure and into the nasal cavity. It can help with symptoms of canalicular stenosis but comes with the same potential side effects as DCR.
You Might Be Entitled to Compensation From a Lawsuit
Sanofi-Aventis failed to warn doctors and patients about the potential adverse reaction Taxotere could cause. They manufactured the drug for years without adequate warning labels, and it wasn’t until 2014 that they finally notified the FDA of the side effects of the drug. Their failure to warn is a form of negligence, which occurs when one party fails to follow a degree of reasonable care to prevent another from injury.
Big pharma might seem intimidating. Going up against a large corporation with endless resources can be overwhelming and stressful. An experienced Tampa Taxotere epiphora lawsuit attorney can assist you with your case and collect sufficient evidence to prove Sanofi-Aventis was responsible for your diagnosis.
We believe in holding people accountable for their actions. Pharmaceutical companies hold a duty to provide drugs to the public that are safe. If there are potential risks to taking their medications, they’re supposed to use warning labels that state the side effects that could develop. Sanofi-Aventis was negligent in failing to warn consumers about the harmful effects of Taxotere and should be held accountable for the consequences.
Why Hiring a Lawyer Could Increase the Value of Your Case
If you choose not to seek legal representation, you’ll likely lose your case or end up with less money than you would if you hired a lawyer. Filing a lawsuit is a complex process that requires complying with strict deadlines and following a specific procedure. When you work with a Tampa Taxotere epiphora lawsuit attorney from Hotze Runkle PLLC, you’ll receive quality legal services from a dedicated professional.
Drug manufacturers typically have a legal team with endless resources to fight against legal problems. If you’re inexperienced handling a lawsuit of this nature, the defense attorneys will use intimidation tactics to scare you into dropping your case or accepting a lowball settlement offer. You could end up with much less money than you deserve or nothing at all.
We won’t allow anyone to mistreat or take advantage of you. When you hire us, we’ll immediately open an investigation into your case and begin collecting relevant evidence. We’ll find a way to prove Taxotere caused your epiphora or canalicular stenosis symptoms.
We can file a lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis on your behalf, submit the evidence we find, and aggressively fight for your rights in court. We’ll work hard to ensure you receive the maximum financial award available to cover your losses.
The Value of a Taxotere Lawsuit
Our Tampa Taxotere epiphora lawsuit attorneys will review your total damages to determine the fair compensation you deserve for the suffering you endured. Damages are the expenses and losses associated with an injury. Your canalicular stenosis symptoms likely resulted in medical bills and other costs while trying to treat the condition. You shouldn’t have to pay for the expenses yourself. The damages you could pursue in a lawsuit may include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Out of pocket expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
There are many factors a jury might consider to determine the value of your case, such as:
- The severity of your condition
- Type of treatment required for your symptoms
- Length of the recovery period
- If you made a full recovery or ended up with a permanent injury
- Total expenses incurred
- Availability of evidence proving the negative effects of Taxotere treatment
Typically, the worse the condition, the higher the compensation. If you suffered minor symptoms and made a full recovery, you’ll probably receive a smaller financial award than if you ended up with permanent damage and had to treat with a doctor for months.
Your attorney will build a strong case to ensure the monetary compensation you end up with is fair and compensates you for all of your damages. We know the trauma you experienced, and we’ll fight hard for the justice you deserve.
Hotze Runkle PLLC Legal Fees and Costs
Many cancer patients and survivors end up facing financial struggles. When you’re paying for medical care and pursuing legal action against a drug company, it can cause significant stress. You might not know how you’re going to afford your expenses and support your family. We don’t want to add to your financial burden. That’s why we take cases on a contingency-fee-basis. You don’t have to pay us up front to represent you in your Taxotere lawsuit. We don’t collect our legal fees unless we’re able to recover financial compensation for our clients. If we don’t win your case, you won’t owe us anything.
We also offer a free initial consultation. There’s no risk in meeting with one of our Tampa Taxotere epiphora lawsuit attorneys and discussing the details of your situation. We’ll review the information you provide and advise the best course of action for pursuing the justice and compensation you deserve. We know this is a difficult time for you, and we’ll provide the guidance and support you need.
Choose Hotze Runkle PLLC
No one should go through what you’re going through. You trusted that the chemotherapy drug you were taking would treat your cancer without causing permanent adverse side effects. Unfortunately, Sanofi-Aventis failed to provide warnings about the epiphora and canalicular stenosis symptoms.
You developed a medical condition with no known cure and suffered the consequences of someone else’s negligence. We’ll help you fight for your rights and hold the pharmaceutical company liable for the harm they caused.
You won’t be alone during this process. We’ll remain by your side throughout your whole case. You can depend on us to handle each step so you can focus on your treatment. To find out if you’re eligible for a Taxotere lawsuit, take our quiz.