If you are or were treating cancer with Taxotere and started experiencing excessive eye-watering or other unusual symptoms, you might be entitled to financial compensation. The Taxotere Canalicular Stenosis lawyers of Hotze Runkle PLLC understand the hardships you’re facing due to the adverse effects of the chemo drug. It can result in additional medical bills and undue stress. The negligent pharmaceutical company should be liable for your expenses and face the consequences of their actions.
The manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis originally developed Taxotere to attack cancer cells and shrink them so they don’t spread to other areas of the body. It can effectively treat neck cancer, head cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, and other cancer types. However, it can also lead to a negative reaction, causing various unpleasant symptoms.
Researchers performed independent studies on the effects of Taxotere on a patient’s body. The results showed that when secretions from the chemo drug come in direct contact with a patient’s tears, inflammation of the canaliculus results. This ocular structure is responsible for draining tears into the nasal cavity. When inflammation occurs, it can lead to watery eyes.
Common Symptoms of Canalicular Stenosis
Chemotherapy puts significant strain on a person’s body and leads to a wide range of side effects. Most patients believe their watery eyes are typical symptoms of their cancer treatment. However, ignoring this symptom could lead to a permanent and severe ocular condition.
Epiphora, or excessively watery eyes, develops when inflammation of the canaliculus creates obstructions, preventing tears from flowing into the nasal cavity as intended. This irritating symptom eventually resolves on its own if a cold or allergy is the culprit.
Unfortunately, when you’re undergoing chemotherapy with Taxotere, the adverse reaction could indicate the start of a potentially permanent medical problem. Canalicular Stenosis is the result of chronic inflammation of the canaliculus. Chronic inflammation causes the canaliculus to close. Once it starts closing, a doctor won’t be able to reopen it.
Common symptoms of Canalicular Stenosis are:
- Blurry vision
- Clouded vision
- Dry eyes
- Central vision loss
- Sensitivity to light
- Eyelid swelling
- Headaches
- Chronic eye infections
- Excessive eye-watering
The best thing you can do for your health is to notify your oncologist of any unexpected symptoms you’re experiencing. At the first sign of epiphora, you should discuss possible treatments to prevent it from developing into a more permanent issue. Eye drops could alleviate dry eyes, while topical steroids can reduce inflammation. Ignoring your symptoms could result in the progression of the medical condition.
Why Taxotere Might Cause Canalicular Stenosis
Your Taxotere chemotherapy regimen could be once a week, once every two weeks, or once every three weeks. You can receive the drug intravenously or orally. The frequency of the treatment has not been shown to increase or decrease the risk of developing Canalicular Stenosis.
Researchers performed studies on how Taxotere might interact with a patient’s body and cause adverse side effects. What they found is that the drug’s secretions come into contact with tears and cause inflammation. The inflammation can worsen, leading to eye infections. Without immediate medical care, blockages in the canaliculus start to form, causing the tears to become trapped on the surface of the eye.
Multiple studies confirmed the negative reaction between tears and Taxotere throughout the last two decades. However, Sanofi chose not to disclose their findings to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or list the possible symptoms on their warning labels.
As a result, patients had no idea of the risks they faced during chemotherapy. Without proper warning, they never had the option to choose a different type of drug to use during treatment.
Manage Your Symptoms With One of These Options
As Canalicular Stenosis progresses, one or both canaliculi could start closing (there is one canaliculus in each eyelid). Once closure happens, it’s irreversible.
You could attempt to manage your symptoms if you’re a candidate for dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). The surgeon will access existing structures underneath the skin between your eye and nose to create a new passageway. They might also place a stent so your tears can bypass the obstructed canaliculus. This allows your tears to drain into the nasal cavity instead of collecting on the surface of your eye.
Some patients aren’t eligible for DCR due to severe damage. Without viable structures for the surgeon to use for a new passageway, they might consider performing conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR). The doctor would position a tiny glass tube called a Jones tube over the obstructed canaliculus. When done correctly, it should facilitate the proper flow of tears.
Although you might think one of these options could free you of the debilitating symptoms you’re experiencing, there are some risks you could face. The most common side effects of DCR and CDCR include:
- Sinusitis
- Blindness
- Tissue and nerve damage
- Significant and permanent facial scars
- Chronic eye infections
- Bleeding at the incision site
- Migrating stent or Jones tube
Immediately inform your doctor if you’re experiencing epiphora or other symptoms of Canalicular Stenosis. The sooner they intervene and provide the right treatment, the better chance you have of preventing permanent damage.
You can continue chemotherapy while you’re treating these side effects. However, your doctor might switch the drug they administer to prevent the condition from worsening.
You Might Be Entitled To Compensation for the Losses You Suffered
Many cancer patients and survivors with Canalicular Stenosis symptoms incur medical expenses, can’t return to work, and endure physical and emotional trauma. You could seek compensation from the drug company to cover your past and future losses. These losses might include:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability or disfigurement
A statute of limitations is a timeframe for seeking legal action against another party. Nebraska follows a four-year statute of limitations. If you want to recover compensation from Sanofi for the losses you suffered, you must file your lawsuit within four years from the date of your injury from Taxotere. After four years pass, you could lose your right to compensation.
Contact Us
If your doctor diagnosed you with Canalicular Stenosis or you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms during chemotherapy with Taxotere, you might be entitled to hold the drug manufacturer liable. Take our Case Evaluation Quiz right now to determine if Hotze Runkle PLLC could help you obtain compensation.