The drug company Sanofi-Aventis began manufacturing Taxotere to treat breast cancer, stomach cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, prostate cancer, and many other types of cancers. They knew about their drug’s inherent risks but sold it to doctors and patients anyway without providing adequate warning labels. Hotze Runkle PLLC might be able to represent you in a lawsuit and pursue the compensation you deserve for your injury. You have a right to hold Sanofi liable for the symptoms you developed.
Common side effects of Taxotere are watery eyes, swollen eyelids, and central vision loss. It’s the result of an unusual reaction as secretions from the drug travel through the body and come in direct contact with a person’s tears. Symptoms can be debilitating and greatly diminish a person’s quality of life. We are ready to advocate for your rights and seek the justice you rightfully deserve for the suffering you endured.
Canalicular Stenosis Can Cause A Range of Symptoms
Patients usually start noticing adverse side effects before their Taxotere chemo regimen ends. It typically begins with excessive, watery eyes, known as epiphora. Tears are supposed to travel from the tear duct into the nasal cavity through the canaliculus. Each eyelid has one canaliculus. However, an inflamed canaliculus obstructs the normal flow of tears, causing the eye to water. Chronic inflammation can lead to infections, causing those structures to close. With nowhere else to go, the tears build up on the eye and get released when the person blinks.
Symptoms can progress, and over time, Canalicular Stenosis develops. Closure of the canaliculus prevents tears from flowing to the nasal cavity. This medical condition can cause various symptoms, including:
- Excessive eye-watering
- Eyelid swelling
- Light sensitivity
- Eye infections
- Central vision loss
- Blurry vision
- Clouded eye lens
- Dry eyes
- Headaches
Every patient is different. Some people experience symptoms so severe that their daily routine is disrupted. Others can live with the adverse side effects of Taxotere with minimal impact on their quality of life. If you’re struggling with these symptoms and want the opportunity to hold the drug manufacturer accountable for their negligent actions, you should contact Hotze Runkle PLLC immediately.
Studies Uncovered the Risks Associated With Taxotere
After discovering a potential link between Taxotere and Canalicular Stenosis, medical researchers began studying cancer patients and how they react to the drug. Your chemo regimen doesn’t have any apparent impact on whether you develop a permanent medical condition from Taxotere. You could receive treatment once a week, once every other week, or once every three weeks and notice unexpected side effects at any time.
As secretions from the drug travel through your body, it reacts with various bodily fluids, such as urine, blood, and even tears. While the secretions funnel through the canaliculus, the direct contact with tears can cause inflammation. If left untreated, the vital eye structures begin to close, obstructing tears from flowing naturally towards the nasal cavity. Eventually, chronic infections caused by these blockages lead to Canalicular Stenosis.
There Is No Cure for Canalicular Stenosis
Canalicular Stenosis is irreversible. A doctor could determine your treatment options to manage the symptoms you’ve been experiencing and prevent the condition from progressing any further. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a potential surgical procedure you could undergo to facilitate the normal flow of your tears.
A doctor will create an incision in the skin and use underlying eye structures to create a new passageway for tears to bypass the obstructed canaliculus and travel to the nasal cavity. Unfortunately, you face some risks with this invasive surgery. Common side effects are:
- Eye infections
- Uncontrollable hemorrhaging
- Facial scarring
- Tissue damage
- Blindness
- Sinusitis
- Ineffective procedure
If a doctor determines the damage to your canaliculus is too severe for you to qualify for DCR, they might have to perform conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR). This is for extreme cases where using existing structures to form a new passageway isn’t possible. Instead, the doctor could place a small glass tube called a Jones tube over the obstructed canaliculus so tears don’t become trapped. It’s a risky procedure and could lead to similar side effects as DCR.
Holding the Manufacturer Liable for the Injuries You Sustained
Many years passed without patients realizing the harm they could suffer by using Taxotere during chemotherapy. Sanofi knew about their drug’s side effects but didn’t disclose it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They placed profits over safety and chose not to include the required warning labels for doctors and patients.
It wasn’t until researchers published the results of their findings that Sanofi finally notified the FDA of the potential risks and printed warning labels to include Canalicular Stenosis symptoms. They were negligent in their duty to warn users of adverse side effects and could be held liable for the injuries and resulting expenses suffered by cancer patients and survivors.
You might be entitled to compensation because of your injuries. You can pursue compensation from the manufacturer by filing a lawsuit, but you must follow the statute of limitations for pursuing legal action in Wisconsin. The statute of limitations for injury cases is three years. That means you have three years from the date of your injury to sue the drug company. If the deadline passes and you attempt to file your lawsuit, the court could dismiss your case.
Contact Hotze Runkle PLLC Today
Our team of experienced and dedicated Taxotere Canalicular Stenosis lawyers might be able to represent you in your case. We will provide personalized one-on-one attention and the legal guidance and support you need during this challenging time in your life. We know the hardship you’ve faced due to Sanofi’s negligence. We will fight for the justice you deserve and work to recover the maximum compensation available.
With over ten years of experience holding pharmaceutical companies responsible for the harm they caused, we know we can effectively litigate your case and reach a favorable outcome. We will aggressively advocate for your rights and remain by your side until the very end of your case. Do not hesitate to discuss your legal options with us. Take our Taxotere Quiz today to find out if you’re eligible to file a lawsuit and seek a monetary award that covers your losses.