If you received a diagnosis of canalicular stenosis after receiving treatment with the chemotherapy drug, Taxotere, Hotze Runkle PLLC might be able to help you recover compensation. Our Dallas Taxotere lawsuit lawyers understand how devastating your situation is. You trusted a drug to treat your cancer, and it caused a whole new diagnosis.
The stress canalicular stenosis causes is overwhelming. You’re experiencing physical and emotional pain that never should have happened in the first place. We believe in fighting for justice for our clients and making sure the company responsible for your suffering pays. The manufacturer who created Taxotere was careless in their practices, and you’re entitled to a financial award from them.
To learn more about the Taxotere lawsuit, take our Taxotere Quiz.
How Canalicular Stenosis Develops
Canalicular stenosis happens when chronic inflammation of the canaliculus gets obstructed and closes. The canaliculus is a vital eye structure responsible for funneling tears through the tear ducts and into the nasal cavity. If it becomes blocked in any way, tears are unable to drain correctly. That leads to epiphora, which is excessive eye-watering. When left untreated, epiphora can develop into canalicular stenosis.
Taxotere chemo causes many unpleasant side effects for cancer patients. Those undergoing this particular treatment for their breast cancer came forward and complained of a range of symptoms that disrupted their lives. It makes routine tasks more complicated to complete and interferes with daily living.
Medical researchers performed studies to find out why Taxotere reacts poorly with a person’s tears. Their findings showed secretions from the drug come in direct contact with the patients’ tears, causing inflammation of the canaliculus. If the inflammation is left untreated, it leads to an infection that obstructs the eye structure and prevents tears from flowing.
The most common symptoms associated with canalicular stenosis include:
- Excessive tearing
- Blurry vision
- Light sensitivity
- Clouding of the eye lens
- Headaches
- Dry eyes
- Eyelid swelling
- Infections
- Cystoid macular edema
Those types of symptoms aren’t just a tiny annoyance; it’s physically painful and causes emotional and psychological trauma. It’s a horrible injustice for a drug company to sell a drug that causes harmful reactions. Unfortunately, the only treatment for canalicular stenosis is an invasive and expensive surgical procedure.
DCR, or dacryocystorhinostomy, may help manage the symptoms of canalicular stenosis. When performed successfully, DCR creates a channel for tears to travel from the eye to the nasal cavity by drilling a hole in a bone or placing a stent over the damaged canaliculus. Although there’s some success with the procedure, it also comes with risks, including:
- Displaced stent
- Bleeding during and after surgery
- Blindness
- Additional infections
- Significant scarring
- Sinusitis
- Tissue damage
For those with canaliculus damage so severe that it’s not possible to reconstruct a new passageway with the existing eye structures, CDCR might be an option. Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy is similar to DCR in that it redirects tears from the obstructed canaliculus to the nasal cavity for drainage of tears. A jones tube, which is a small glass tube, gets positioned where the canaliculus was to facilitate the drainage of tears. However, it’s not 100% effective and could lead to the same side effects as DCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve provided answers to the questions we receive most frequently about canalicular stenosis and Taxotere. If you have any additional questions, take our Quiz to determine next steps.
Do I have to stop chemo to treat canalicular stenosis?
No. You can continue your chemo treatment while managing the symptoms you’re experiencing. If it’s necessary, your doctor can place a temporary stent that helps your tears travel around the obstructed canaliculus and prevents further issues. Your oncologist and ophthalmologist can closely monitor your progress and overall health to make sure your condition doesn’t advance into something more serious.
Am I entitled to compensation?
The maker of Taxotere, Sanofi-Aventis, is up against thousands of lawsuits for false marketing and failure to disclose the adverse side effects of their drug. Despite being on the market for many years, Sanofi-Aventis didn’t warn its users of potential side effects they could experience after undergoing Taxotere treatment. It wasn’t until 2014 that they finally released warning labels listing canalicular stenosis symptoms.
If your oncologist prescribed Taxotere chemotherapy to treat your cancer and you developed symptoms of canalicular stenosis, you have a right to hold Sanofi-Aventis responsible for their careless actions. Their failure to disclose harmful effects falls under the category of negligence. Every pharmaceutical company is supposed to ensure their products are safe and don’t hurt consumers. If you wish to pursue a lawsuit, you can do so, citing the existence of negligence.
It might seem like a daunting task to go up against big pharma. It’s an intimidating process, and figuring out where to start is stressful in itself. With the assistance of an experienced Dallas Taxotere lawsuit lawyer, your rights will stay protected. We’ll make sure you receive the maximum financial award available. We dedicate our time and resources to our clients, so they’re able to recover all the costs they incurred because of their diagnosis.
What kind of compensation can I expect from a Taxotere lawsuit?
There are multiple economic and non-economic damages you can pursue in a Taxotere lawsuit. Damages are the total losses an injured victim incurs because of someone else’s negligence. Economic damages are expenses, such as medical bills, while non-economic damages are the physical and emotional pain you endured. You could potentially seek compensation for the following damages:
- Medical bills: Medically necessary expenses to treat your symptoms, such as surgery, prescriptions, and hospital stays.
- Lost wages: Past and future pay you can’t earn because of your diagnosis.
- Pain and suffering: Significant physical pain directly caused by your Taxotere treatment.
- Emotional trauma: Anxiety, depression, and other emotional pain suffered because of Canalicular Stenosis and the effect it had on your life.
- Loss of consortium: Compensation for an immediate family member who was negatively impacted by your situation.
The total compensation you receive depends entirely on the severity of your symptoms, how much treatment you needed, and various other factors. If your symptoms cause permanent damage, you could recover a monetary award that covers your past expenses and any future costs you require.
How can a Dallas Taxotere lawsuit lawyer help me?
Victims of Taxotere injuries will try to handle their case without the help of a lawyer. Unfortunately, that could lead to the case getting thrown out or a low settlement offer. Drug companies utilize law firms that come with unlimited resources. They will try to intimidate you and get you to settle your case for pennies on the dollar. Instead of winning the maximum compensation available, you could walk away with next to nothing.
Hotze Runkle PLLC has experience fighting against large corporations and building a strong case to bring to court. Our Dallas Taxotere lawsuit lawyers will gather sufficient evidence to prove your claim and justify why you deserve payment from Sanofi-Aventis. We’re not afraid of going up against pharmaceutical companies. We never back down from a fight and will be by your side the entire process.
Is there a deadline to file a lawsuit?
There’s a statute of limitations in every state that determines the deadline for pursuing civil action against another party. In the state of Texas, the statute of limitations for product liability is two years. Once your symptoms start, you have two years to file a lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis if you want to receive compensation. If you miss the two-year deadline, you lose your right to a financial award for this specific situation.
What should I do if I can’t afford a lawyer?
Hotze Runkle PLLC knows you’re facing a mountain of medical bills. You might not be able to return to work because of your symptoms and feel stressed about how you’re going to afford your treatment. We don’t want to add to your burden by charging upfront fees or costs. We will take on your case on a contingency-fee basis. We won’t expect you to pay until we secure a settlement or favorable jury verdict for you.
If you want to meet with us to discuss your canalicular stenosis symptoms and find out how we can help you pursue a lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis, we’ll provide a free consultation. There’s no risk in reviewing the details of your case so we can review everything and determine the options you have.
Diagnosed with Canalicular Stenosis? Schedule Your Free Consultation
Did you undergo Taxotere treatment for breast, lung, chest, head, or another form of cancer and experience harmful side effects? If so, Hotze Runkle PLLC might be able to help you pursue legal action against the pharmaceutical company that created the drug. Our Dallas Taxotere lawsuit lawyers are available to answer your questions and provide legal advice.
We know it’s unfair to be in your situation. It’s something that completely upended your life and interfered with your job and relationships. It’s our goal to make sure Sanofi-Aventis pays for their despicable actions so you can recover and move forward with your life. If you want to find out if you qualify for a lawsuit, take our Taxotere Quiz.