The questions often asked about the connection between Taxotere and hair loss are: Does taxotere cause hair loss? Is there any link between taxotere and alopecia or is it only cosmetic? In addition, does taxotere cause hair loss and if so, how does it happen?
Like all known drug lawsuits, the taxotere hair loss lawsuits also involve a legal claim known as negligence. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits often argue that the company that makes taxotere, Sanofi-Aventis, did not properly warn patients that they would suffer permanent hair loss after taking taxotere. In fact, the manufacturer’s warnings specifically state that use of taxotere can result in alopecia or in menopausal women who use taxotere as part of their hormone therapy regimen. In addition, in a report released by the European Agency for Research on Cancer (EUROC), the connection between taxotere and cancer was established. According to EUROC, the analysis found that women who used taxotere with hormonal therapy had a three times greater chance of developing breast cancer.
Taxotere is marketed under various brand names including Propecia, Vacodiol and Rogaine. Taxotere is a combination of two anti-androgens, androgen and estates, a synthetic form of estrogen. Estrogen is naturally produced by the ovaries and some follicles but in excessive quantities, it can bind with the androgen receptors located in hair follicles and result in hair loss. When taxotere is taken in combination with chemotherapy drugs it can cause irreparable damage to hair follicles. Propecia and vacodiol, two other popular brand names for taxotere, have also been linked to cancer in patients taking these medications.
For years, women with persistent hair loss sought out doctors who could provide a permanent alopecia using taxotere. However, many doctors refused to treat patients, stating that alopecia caused by chemotherapy is untreatable. According to many doctors, alopecia that arises due to chemotherapy cannot be treated using finasteride or any other treatment for which there is an obvious cause such as genetic predisposition. This means that women who are experiencing persistent alopecia after taxotere therapy must seek alternative treatments for their condition, other than chemotherapy. Many doctors are now aware that alopecia may also be caused by other factors and treatments are being researched all the time for alopecia caused by other causes. As a result, many doctors are offering different options to patients seeking ways of treating permanent alopecia.
Researchers are currently researching the effects of finasteride on the prostate. Docetaxel is a newly approved prescription medication that has shown some encouraging results in preliminary studies. Docetaxel is offered to men with male pattern hair loss whose condition has begun to respond to topical applications of docetaxel. Although doctors are not yet certain if docetaxel will indeed be effective in treating male pattern baldness, docetaxel is being studied extensively in Germany and Italy and is expected to undergo phase III clinical testing soon. If the new clinical test shows promising results, docetaxel could very well become the first topical prescription medication for hair loss. Other doctors are not so sure about docetaxel’s safety in treating alopecia due to other factors such as prostate cancer and anxiety.
Another interesting research topic revolves around the use of vitamin B6 in the treatment of alopecia. Doctors noted that most of their patients with mild alopecia had vitamin B6 deficiency or low levels of this nutrient. In some cases, however, patients’ hair also lost more than normal despite increased intake of vitamin B6 or a deficiency of it. Doctors then examined the hair follicles under the microscope to see if there were any abnormalities in the nutrients needed for hair growth. Although there was no visible difference in the number of hairs lost between groups, there was a trend toward an excess of proteins in the follicles from patients suffering from vitamin B deficiency.
During the last few years, many researchers have been focusing on the use of antibiotics in treating various forms of cancer. Most of these studies have focused on cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach, lungs, and liver. In one study, lung cancer was linked to an imbalance of amino acids in the body, which suggests that chemotherapy treatment may play a role in these cases as well. Similarly, stomach and liver cancer were thought to be linked to amino acid depletion caused by antibiotic use.
In response to the new research, some doctors are suggesting that people with frequent bowel movements (PO scans) should consider regrowth supplements. These supplements are usually composed of certain proteins that the body needs to stimulate the growth of healthy hair follicles. They are not, however, considered a cure for cancer. Many experts are quick to point out that conclusive scientific proof has yet to be produced linking the deficiencies seen in patients receiving chemotherapy to hair loss and/or regrowth. Still, for those whose doctors have not blamed the supplements as a cause of baldness, they are offering a logical choice for those who wish to delay further studies into the matter. For those whose hair loss is caused by a medical condition, such as advanced liver disease, doctors may want to discuss further options with patients.