Propecia Lawsuit MDL
Recently an order was issued by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) forming a Propecia lawsuit MDL for claims filed in federal district courts throughout the United States. In the MDL, Propecia lawsuit individual cases will be overseen by one judge, however the cases are not part of a class action and each case continues individually in a lawsuit.
In 2009, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency concluded that drugs containing finasteride (such as Propecia) presented a risk of breast cancer in men. The warning label for the prescription hair loss treatment in the UK was updated soon after. This same information was omitted from the warning label used in the U.S. until the spring of 2011. Millions of men have unwittingly been exposed to a risk of male breast cancer since the hair loss pill was approved by the FDA in 1997.
Over 50 cases of the disease have been reported through 2009. Though the condition is rare, there is clearly a risk. Men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are encouraged to look into filing Propecia lawsuit claims against Merck, the maker of the drug.
The danger of this disease is that tumors are rarely found early in men. Before the malignancy is discovered, cancer cells have often spread to the axillary lymph nodes, and even the chest wall. Invasive surgery in the form of a mastectomy is usually necessary.
Total Mastectomy For Male Breast Cancer
A mastectomy is the removal of the breast. There are a number of ways to perform the operation based on the needs of the patient and the aggressiveness of the cancer. Men usually have fewer options than women due to having less breast tissue. Unless complications develop during surgery, the procedure can typically be completed within a few hours.
A total (or simple) mastectomy involves the removal of the affected breast, including the nipple and areola. The surgeon may be able to perform the operation with techniques designed to preserve the nipple and areola, but such an approach is rarely an option for men. A long incision (six to eight inches) is made into the breast, beginning near the sternum and moving outward toward the underarm. After the incision has been made, the skin is held back and the tissue is completely removed. The wound is then sutured.
Modified Radical Mastectomy
This procedure is similar to a total mastectomy, but also includes the removal of the axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) on the side of the affected breast. These lymph nodes, numbering between twenty and thirty, are found under the arm. They are one of the first places cancer cells spread outside the breast. Once the diseased cells reach the lymph nodes, they can be transported through the lymph system to distant areas of the body.
The same approach used for a total mastectomy is used here to remove the tumor from the breast. Removal of the lymph nodes (called axillary lymph node dissection) is performed through an incision made into the tissue under the arm. A modified radical mastectomy with ALN dissection is likely to be the most suitable option for men who have developed Propecia male breast cancer.
Radical Mastectomy (Halsted Mastectomy)
A radical mastectomy is the most invasive form of the procedure. It involves the removal of the breast (including the nipple and areola), axillary lymph nodes, and the muscles of the chest wall. Many years ago, it was the standard approach to surgical therapy for breast cancer. Today, it is reserved for cases in which the cancer cells have reached the pectoral muscles. The patient is left with little more than skin following the procedure.
After Surgery For Male Breast Cancer
Immediately after surgery, the patient is transferred to a postoperative recovery unit. His vital signs are monitored until he awakens, after which he is transferred to a hospital room for the remainder of his stay. Patients who undergo a modified radical mastectomy with ALN dissection can expect to remain in the hospital for two or three days. They are then released to complete their recovery at home. Their physicians will explain how to care for the wound, and list activities to avoid (e.g. running, heavy lifting, etc.). Most men can return to their normal daily routines within six weeks of the procedure.
Male breast cancer is very rare. However, the disease is life-threatening once it develops. The cancer progresses through the same 4 stages of metastasis as breast cancer for women, and poses the same 5-year survival rates at each stage.
If you have used the hair loss pill, and were later diagnosed with breast cancer or suffer from erectile dysfunction, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Propecia lawsuit settlements attorney to discuss your legal options.