MY STORY:

I received a type of chemotherapy in 2004 called Taxotere. The drug is manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis and is used in the treatment of breast cancer. Taxotere causes permanent hair loss in approximately 6.3 of patients. I am in communication with a group of approximately 40-50 women who suffer permanent hair loss from this drug, however, I believe that we are less than 10% of the 6.3% who are affected. At least 10,000 people have been treated with this drug worldwide (as of 2008), which would make the number closer to 500+. It is my belief, and there is evidence, that Sanofi-Aventis has known about the permanent hair loss as early as the trials in 2002/2003, but chose not to disclose this information to Oncologists and consequently their patients. To this day, it is not mentioned on the website When I underwent Herceptin treatment, another type of chemotherapy, I was informed that there was a risk of heart damage and decided to go ahead with the treatment, but it was MY decision. My heart was monitored for adverse changes throughout the course of the treatment and I was comfortable with the decision I made. When that choice is taken away due to non-disclosure, it is an assault and is inexcusable. It is very clear that this company’s main concern is for their own financial gain and that of their stockholders, with no regard for individuals suffering possible permanent side affects from their drug. There are other treatment options for breast cancer patients, including types of chemotherapy that do not cause permanent hair loss. Unfortunately, we were robbed of those options; stripped of the opportunity to make a different choice because of a simple lack of disclosure. It is clear that Sanofi-Aventis, the largest pharmaceutical company in Europe, third largest in the world, made a conscious decision to omit this information from their literature and to conveniently not provide doctors with the facts. This was intentional and the reason is clear; financial gain. They know that women care immensely about their appearance and that hair is an extremely important part of that; otherwise there would not be a multi-billion dollar industry built around hair and hair products. So, how many of those women would opt. for Taxotere as opposed to another drug, if they knew the facts? We are looking for support in our efforts to put a stop to this industry giant as they continue to pedal their drug to unsuspecting potential victims.