Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit

Concerned about bladder cancer? This disease strikes 70,000 Americans who are 70 years and older each year. While treatment plans can be effective, knowing the symptoms and risk factors can be key to an early diagnosis. If you were diagnosed with cancer after using this diabetes medication, please contact us for a free consultation and filing deadlines for an Actos bladder cancer lawsuit.

About Bladder Cancer

The bladder is a hollow organ that stores urine from the kidneys until it is disposed outside of the body through the urethra. Bladder cancer most often develops in the transitional cells, which are in the bladder’s innermost tissues. Cancer cells may be confined to this lining, or they may spread to the bladder’s muscular wall, or further to nearby organs and lymph nodes.

Possible Signs of Bladder Cancer

One of the earliest signs of bladder cancer is painful or frequent urination, the need to urinate but an inability to do so, lower back pain or blood in urine. These symptoms may also be caused by a variety of other illnesses, so it is important to consult with your doctor if any of these symptoms occur.

Risk Factors

While scientists don’t know why some people develop bladder cancer and others do not, they do know that certain factors may increase the risk.

Smoking for example, is one of the primarily risk factors for developing bladder, as well as other types of cancer. Exposure to certain chemicals can also increase the chances of bladder cancer. People who have been exposed to certain toxic chemicals in the dye, rubber, metal, leather or textile industries, as well as those with long-term exposure to hairdressing chemicals, printing and paint materials are at a higher risk.

Recent studies have shown that diabetics who have taken the prescription medicine Actos may have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer as well. In several studies that examined the extended use of this diabetes medicine, researchers found that people who used Actos long-term were 40% more likely to develop bladder cancer than those who had not used the medication. As a result, several countries have suspended use of this medicine due to concerns of Actos bladder cancer side effects.

Talk with your doctor about your individual risk factors and any symptoms you may have. If you are taking Actos, consult with your physician about the best course of action. If you have taken Actos and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, in addition to working with your doctor, we encourage you to consider your legal options as well. Many patients who have taken Actos for diabetes and subsequently developed bladder cancer believe that Actos’ manufacturer should be held accountable for the devastation that the medicine has caused. We are currently working with families who are seeking compensation for the emotional, physical and financial toll this drug has caused in patients diagnosed with cancer. For more information, please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. There is a limited time to file an Actos bladder cancer lawsuit. Please contact us as soon as possible.