Propecia News 2012

Although there have been very few documented cases of male breast cancer, If you have suffered from breast cancer or permanent erectile dysfunction while using this hair loss medication, please contact us for the latest Propecia news 2012 updates. Men using the prescription hair loss pill should be aware they can develop the disease. The active ingredient contained in the medication (finasteride) has been linked to the development of malignant breast tumors in over fifty men. Unfortunately, until 2011, the warning label used in the U.S. had neglected to list the condition as a potential outcome. Thus, many men were using this drug without realizing their exposure. Some may have already developed tumors in their breast tissue, yet remain unaware.

Treatment for breast cancer in men is similar to that given to women with the disease. If the tumor is localized in the breast tissue, it can often be resolved through surgery (a mastectomy). Once the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, systemic treatment through chemotherapy becomes necessary. Below, we’ll describe some of the side effects caused by the chemo medicines, and explain why they occur. Men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer after using finasteride may be eligible to file a Propecia lawsuit claim against Merck Pharmaceuticals.

When Is Chemo Given For Male Breast Cancer?

Chemotherapy is given in nearly all cases of male breast cancer. The exception is when the patient is unable to tolerate the drugs. Use of the chemo medicines varies by circumstance.

As noted earlier, localized tumors can be treated successfully with surgery. But removing a tumor from the patient’s breast does not guarantee his body is clean of cancer cells. As early as stage IB, the diseased cells can sometimes be found in the lymph nodes. This allows them to travel throughout the lymph system. Chemotherapy is given after surgery to ensure all remaining cancer cells in the body have been killed or neutralized. The treatment is called adjuvant therapy.

Doctors will also administer chemo medicines in an attempt to shrink tumors in the breast prior to surgery. Doing so makes them easier to remove. In some cases, a malignancy may be so large that it cannot be surgically excised unless the drugs are given to shrink it beforehand. Here, the treatment is referred to as neoadjuvant therapy.

When the diseased cells have spread beyond the breast tissue (i.e. metastatic male breast cancer), systemic chemotherapy is given as the primary treatment. Surgery is still performed to remove the breast and axillary lymph nodes, but is considered adjuvant therapy.

Common Side Effects Caused By Chemotherapy

Many of the side effects associated with chemo drugs affect the gastrointestinal tract. For example, the patient might experience nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. He may also develop mouth ulcers.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy might also experience hair loss, persistent aches and pains throughout their bodies, and a general feeling of fatigue. This latter symptom can last for months, even if the patient gets sufficient sleep, eats well, and avoids strenuous activity.

Many patients develop a greater susceptibility to infections during, and immediately following, chemotherapy. This is due to a low white blood cell count. Additionally, low platelet counts can lead to excessive bruising.

Why Chemo For Male Breast Cancer Causes Side Effects

The drugs given for chemotherapy are designed to target cells that divide more quickly than normal. Once they have been identified, the diseased cells are altered, either to kill them or stop their growth. Although this mechanism is an effective approach for eliminating cancer cells, it can also damage healthy cells in certain parts of the body.

Normal cells in the gastrointestinal tract – including the stomach, bowels, and esophagus – divide at a faster rate than those found elsewhere in the body. This is also true of the cells in the hair follicles. Chemo medicines target and damage them, which causes side effects. Once therapy is stopped, the growth of normal cells resumes, causing the side effects to dissipate.

Nearly all cases of male breast cancer are treated with chemotherapy, either as an adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or primary treatment. Primary therapy is necessary once the diseased cells have metastasized beyond the breast.

If you have used the hair loss treatment Propecia, and later developed breast cancer or suffer from permanent erectile dysfuntion, you may be able to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. Contact an experienced Propecia lawsuit attorney to discuss your legal options.