When discussing Propecia long-term side effects, the hair loss treatment is usually associated with sexual dysfunction. But studies show it also increases the risk of male breast cancer. Currently individual Propecia lawsuit claims are being filed by men affected by serious side effects and there is not a national Propecia class action lawsuit in the United States. Notably, while the warning label used on the drug here in the U.S. implies a possibility of breast lumps, enlargement, and pain, it excludes the term “cancer.”

While cases of Propecia breast cancer in men are rare, it’s worth understanding how the condition is treated. Treatment is based on the staging of the disease, a process during which doctors determine how far the tumor has spread. The condition can often be cured with surgery alone if it is detected in stage I (localized to the breast and lymph nodes). By the time it advances to later stages, adjuvant therapies becomes necessary. Unfortunately, because the disease is so rare, few men conduct self-examinations. As a result, it is rarely detected early.

Surgical Removal Of Diseased Breast Tissue

Surgery is performed to remove the tumor along with a small amount of healthy tissue in order to prevent a recurrence. This can be done via a few different procedures depending on the disease’s presentation. A conventional mastectomy (removal of the breast) is sometimes done, though a modified radical mastectomy is much more common. With this latter approach, the breast is removed as well as a majority of the lymph nodes under the arm. The surgeon also removes some of the chest muscles as well as the lining over them.

When the tumor is localized within a very small area of the breast tissue, breast-conserving surgery may be performed. The surgeon can perform a lumpectomy, which removes the tumor and surrounding tissue, but leaves the majority of the breast intact. A quadrantectomy is the removal of one-quarter of the breast. A segmental mastectomy is similar, but also involves the removal of the chest lining beneath the tumor.

Radiation Therapy

If surgery alone cannot cure Propecia breast cancer in men, the surgeon may recommend radiation therapy. This is the targeted delivery of radiation beams (e.g. x-rays, photons, etc.). Its purpose is to eliminate cancer cells that remain in the axillary lymph nodes and chest wall following surgery (i.e. lumpectomy or mastectomy).

Therapy can be delivered in several ways, including with an external machine or via a radioactive agent introduced into the body. The latter approach is taken when the tumor has spread far beyond the breast (i.e. become systemic).

Chemotherapy: Cancer-Killing Drugs

Chemotherapy is administered once the tumor has metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body. At that point, the disease can no longer be addressed solely with surgery and targeted radiation therapy (though systemic radiation therapy is still applicable). Powerful drugs are introduced into the bloodstream via catheter or injection. Occasionally, the drugs are delivered in tablet form.

This form of treatment usually produces side effects, such as hair loss and nausea. The reason is because the medications attack both cancerous cells and healthy cells in their attempt to eliminate the cancer.

Hormonal Therapy

Hormonal treatment is given to block the production of estrogen. Produced in the ovaries, estrogen is a natural hormone needed by tumor cells for continued growth. By blocking it, therapy slows the disease’s spread.

A common method for addressing estrogen production in women is to surgically remove the ovaries. For men, hormonal treatment involves taking a drug called tamoxifen. This medication is in a class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators.

It’s worth noting that Propecia male breast cancer seldom produces breast pain, making the disease even more unlikely to be detected. For this reason, men who have used the hair loss treatment drug should perform periodic self-examinations. Nipple discharge, a firm lump under the breast, or swelling under the arms (resulting from diseased lymph nodes), are signs of male breast cancer. The longer it takes to identify the condition, the less successful treatment is likely to be.

If you used the hair loss medication Propecia, and were later diagnosed with male breast cancer, you may be able to file a claim against the drug’s manufacturer. Contact an experienced Propecia lawsuit attorney to discuss your case. We are filing individual claims on behalf of men who suffer from breast cancer or permanent erectile dysfunction. There currently is no Propecia class action lawsuit in the United States.

Prior to 2009, the warning label for the drug finasteride (sold under the brands Proscar and Propecia) omitted mention of the risk of Propecia breast cancer in men. This changed in the UK as a result of a study conducted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA discovered several cases in which men developed Propecia breast cancer symptoms after using the hair loss drug. Due to the agency’s findings, the warning label for finasteride was updated in Europe in order to caution users about the risk.

Here in the U.S., the warning label for Propecia continues to omit any mention of breast cancer. Given the seeming negligence of the drug’s manufacturer, Merck Pharmaceuticals, men suffering from the condition may have grounds to pursue a Propecia lawsuit claim. The first step, however, is determining whether cancer has developed. We’ll describe the tests used for that purpose below.

Signs Of Propecia Breast Cancer

If you are using the hair loss pill, or have done so in the past, take the time to perform periodic self-examinations of your breast tissue. Doing so will alert you to signs of cancer. Look for nipple discharge as well as scaling and retraction. Also, feel for lumps and areas of swelling under the skin.

If you notice these symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor. He or she will perform a physical examination to confirm them. Your physician can also determine how close lumps are to your chest muscles, which may offer insight regarding how far the disease has progressed.

Diagnostic Mammogram

Mammography is an imaging method that uses x-rays to display the breast tissue. Two plates are used to squeeze the tissue as flat as possible. A radiologist or technician operates the machine, and takes the images. A mammogram can usually detect small tumors before they can be felt through the skin.

Ultrasound Of The Breast Tissue

When mammography reveals an abnormality, ultrasound is often used to further investigate it. A gel is placed on the skin, and a device called a transducer is moved back and forth over it. The transducer emits high-frequency sound waves that penetrate the skin, and bounce off the tissues. These sound waves help to construct an image of the breast as well as potential tumors.

Examination Of Fluid From The Nipple

In some cases of Propecia breast cancer in men, a fluid will leak from the nipple. This fluid can be examined for the presence of cancer cells. It’s important to note that an absence of cancer cells does not mean the patient’s breast tissue is free of tumors. Because of this, the test has limited value.

Needle And Surgical Biopsy

The studies described to this point cannot be used to conclusively diagnose breast cancer. They can only support the suspicion that the disease is present. A biopsy – a procedure during which a tissue sample is removed – is needed to verify it.

Biopsies can be performed with a needle or via surgery. If the extraction is done with a needle, the doctor can take one of two approaches. The first approach is called fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Here, the doctor draws a small sample using a thin needle. The second option is called core needle biopsy. A larger needle is used to remove a much larger piece of tissue. While FNA biopsy is relatively easy, and poses minimal discomfort, core biopsy is usually more accurate due to the size of the tissue sample.

When a substantial amount of tissue must be removed, the only viable option for doing so is with surgery. An excisional biopsy is done. While the procedure is more invasive than needle biopsy, it is far more accurate in diagnosing the disease.

Five-year survival rates for Propecia breast cancer in men plummet as the disease spreads from the breast to other areas of the body. It’s important to have it treated as quickly as possible. If you used the hair loss drug Propecia, and were later diagnosed with male breast cancer, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Propecia lawsuit lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Following and increasing number of Propecia lawsuit claims filed, Although the drug finasteride has been around for decades, it was only approved by the FDA for male pattern hair loss as recently as 1997. After gaining approval, the drug’s manufacturer, Merck and Co., began to sell it under the brand name Propecia. Since then, millions of prescriptions have been written for the medication, making it one of the most commercially successful hair loss drugs ever formulated. But a growing number of men have reported serious Propecia side effects that have continued to present long after they stopped using the drug.

A 2011 Propecia lawsuit was filed by two men in New Jersey. It alleges that Merck and Co. failed to warn them about the risk of long-term sexual side effects stemming from use of the hair loss drug. A similar lawsuit was recently filed in Canada. This trend is likely to continue as more information surfaces regarding various permanent side effects caused by the medication.

Propecia Permanent Sexual Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition defined by an inability to achieve or sustain an erection. Many men suffering from the disorder find it to be both an emotional burden and constant source of stress. It can lead to relationship difficulties, self-esteem issues, and an inability to start a family.

Men who use the male pattern baldness drug should already be aware that it can cause ED. This is clearly displayed on the package’s warning label. So too are other sexual side effects, such as a decreased libido (i.e. sex drive) and lower volume of sperm. The problem is, the label assures the person using the hair loss pill that the side effects will go away once he stops taking it. Evidence shows, however, this may be untrue.

A high-profile study published in the June 2011 edition of The Journal of Sexual Medicine revealed that use of finasteride did cause persistent sexual dysfunction among some test subjects. An earlier study published in the March 2011 edition found similar results. While the warning label in the U.S. claims sexual side effects will vanish after use of the drug is discontinued, this is clearly not always the case. It is also noteworthy that the warning label used throughout Europe mentions the possibility of long-term Propecia sexual dysfunction.

Propecia Breast Cancer in Men

Breast cancer is generally considered to affect only women. However, while it is much less prevalent among men, it does occur. There may be a link between the disease and use of finasteride.

A study published in 2004 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that using finasteride could lead to the development of male breast cancer. In 2009, the UK government agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) included mention of the disease on the Propecia warning label. Thus far, the official U.S. label omits the warning, mentioning only the possibility of breast tenderness, enlargement, lumps, and nipple discharge.

Other Potential Long-Term Propecia Side Effects

In addition to erectile dysfunction, a decreased libido, lower sperm production, and male breast cancer, the hair loss pill poses a risk of additional side effects. For example, some men develop a rash due to an allergic reaction to the drug. Others may experience itching or swelling in the face. Still others may develop high grade prostate cancer, a risk that was added to the U.S. warning label by the FDA in June 2011.

Much of the controversy that surrounds the hair loss pill is focused on the differences between the warning labels used in the U.S. and throughout Europe. The UK label cautions users about the risk of permanent sexual dysfunction as well as the possibility of male breast cancer. The U.S. label does not. If Merck and Co., Inc. was aware of the risk of these long-term side effects, yet chose to withhold the information, they should be held accountable.

If you suffer from long-term Propecia sexual dysfunction, or have been diagnosed with male breast cancer, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Propecia lawsuit lawyer to discuss your legal options.