Actos And Bladder Cancer Lawsuit

by admin on November 14th, 2011

The FDA announced in June 2011 that using the medication for longer than one year may contribute to Actos causing bladder cancer.Takeda Pharmaceuticals, maker of the type 2 diabetes drug Actos (known by its generic name pioglitazone), is currently facing hundreds of Actos and bladder cancer lawsuit claims. The announcement was based on results from an ongoing ten-year study researching the risk factors and causes of the disease. However, it was not the first indication of a link between Actos and bladder cancer.

One week prior to the FDA’s announcement, the French Agency for the Safety of Health Products banned pioglitazone for similar concerns. Their action was taken after a review of a French epidemiological study. The following day, Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices also implemented a ban on the drug.

Cancer of the bladder is particularly dangerous because it has a high rate of recurrence. In the space below, we’ll explain this issue in more detail, including how a recurrent tumor is treated.

Actos And Bladder Cancer: The Likelihood Of Recurrence

Both superficial and invasive bladder cancer can recur following successful treatment. The former is defined by cancer cells that are contained within the inner lining of the bladder. The latter refers to cancer that has metastasized (i.e. spread) to other organs and the lymph nodes.

Low grade (slow-growing) superficial bladder cancer recurs least often, typically presenting in one of three cases over a five-year period. High grade (fast-growing) cancer presents in nearly 80 percent of cases over the same time frame. In other words, most people who have received treatment for Actos causing bladder cancer are likely to develop the condition again down the road. Moreover, invasive tumors that recur are likely to progress quickly. This means prompt treatment is critical.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the long-term prognosis for someone who develops recurrent invasive bladder cancer is poor. Much depends, however, on the health of the patient, past therapies given, and where the tumor forms.

Can Actos Cause Cancer?

Routine follow-up care also plays an important role in detecting and treating a recurrent tumor. Because there is a high risk of recurrence with bladder cancer, most doctors strongly recommend follow-up appointments every three to six months, even if there are no symptoms.

In most cases, especially when cancer cells have penetrated the layer of muscle, the bladder is surgically removed. The procedure is called a radical cystectomy. A common misunderstanding that dissuades many patients from prioritizing follow-up care is that the disease is unlikely to recur in the absence of the bladder. In reality, post-cystectomy recurrence is common. The tumor may develop in the lungs, pelvis, or liver. It can also present in the bone tissue. The majority of these recurrences are asymptomatic, which makes the condition even more difficult for the patient to detect.

How A Recurrent Tumor Is Treated

Treatment options for recurrent bladder cancer are based largely on the type of therapy given for the initial occurrence, and the location of the new tumor. For example, the patient may have been treated for low grade superficial cancer with intravesical therapy. Due to the relative low risk presented, removal of the bladder may have been unnecessary. When a new tumor forms in the organ’s inner lining, the doctor may recommend a radical cystectomy to reduce the likelihood of future recurrences.

On the other hand, the patient’s bladder may have been previously removed due to a large, invasive primary tumor. If a recurrence develops in multiple parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, and bone, systemic chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. Radiation therapy may be used as an adjuvant treatment.

Symptoms associated with primary Actos and bladder cancer should spur an immediate visit to your physician. Aggressive forms of the disease tend to spread quickly through the tissues and muscle of the bladder, eventually metastasizing to other areas of the body.

Actos And Bladder Cancer Lawsuit Help

If you are using Actos and have experienced pain during urination, blood in your urine, or lower back pain, consult your doctor for an examination. If you have already been diagnosed with bladder cancer, contact an Actos lawsuit bladder cancer lawyer to discuss your legal options.