A new study presented at the 2014 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium showed that testosterone therapies do not have any links to prostate cancer; an original concern for medical professionals.
According to an article sourced from the National Trial Lawyers, the study used information from several cancer registries to study the risk of prostate cancer in males using androgen-replacement drugs. Androgen replacement and other testosterone therapies are commonly used to remedy male hormonal issues-specifically for men who wish to build greater muscle mass, reduce body fat, and improve health and sex drive. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved hormonal therapy as a beneficial treatment for patients suffering low t-levels as a result of coinciding medical issues, but has not approved testosterone therapy as safe for men without an existing medical condition. Testosterone replacement is typically administered in the form of prescription transdermal gels, creams, pellets, patches, and injections. Common testosterone therapy products include: Androgel, Andoderm, Axirom, Bio-T-Gel, Foretesa, and Testim.
But while many of these treatments are safe for use, there remain some serious risks. Hormone changes have the possibility of influencing certain tissues and organs, including the prostate, and therefore medical professionals had previously speculated that androgen and testosterone could increase the risk of developing prostate cancers. This study, though, found no link between androgen-replacement therapies and prostate cancer.
Though this is good news for many patients, studies have shown there remains serious health risks including an increased instance of stroke or heart attack associated with the use of androgen and testosterone.
In fact, many common testosterone therapies have been linked to increased rates of heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular problems, sleep apnea, increased blood platelets, atherosclerosis and coronary plaque, and even death by as much as 30%. Still, in spite of these potential dangerous side effects, selling testosterone replacement products has become a $1.6 billion industry for pharmaceutical companies, and many physicians have prescribed testosterone replacements to nearly 3% of American men aged 40 and older.
Unsurprisingly, testosterone therapy lawsuits have appeared more frequently as male patients have begun reporting injuries shortly after they begin treatment. On January 31, 2014, the FDA released a statement warning of the potential complications associated with low-T treatment, and that they would be conducting an investigation into the reported adverse side effects.
Although this latest breakthrough research is positive, the FDA is still in the midst of researching and investigating the other potential harmful side effects of testosterone therapy. Many patients who have been already affected may wonder what their next step should be and who is liable for their injuries. Like any consumer products company, pharmaceutical corporations as well as doctors who prescribed the medication, have the liability of ensuring that their products are safe for consumption and that these medical treatments do not pose an unhealthy risk to their patients. When companies are unable to ensure that their products are safe, it is the drug companies’ responsibility to compensate victims and families for their injuries and suffering.
At the law offices of Altman & Altman, our experienced Boston Drug Injury Lawyers have decades of experience handling all types of drug injury cases against major pharmaceuticals and have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. If you suspect that you have become ill or have been injured as the result of a defective medication, you may be entitled to receiving financial compensation from the pharmaceutical company who manufactured that medication
Call our office or contact us online for a free initial consultation and case evaluation to determine whether you qualify for a drug injury lawsuit. Our attorneys are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to answer any questions that you might have, and we take all personal injury cases on a contingency basis: that is, we charge no fee unless you recover. Moreover, if illness or injuries make travel to our office difficult or impossible, our attorneys are more than happy to meet you at a location convenient for you.