Actos Cancer
The American Cancer Society states that, on average, one out of 26 men and one out of 83 women will develop bladder cancer. Over 70,000 are projected to be diagnosed in 2012 and more than 14,000 will die from bladder cancer.
The FDA has stated that exposure to the diabetes drug, Actos, increases the risk of bladder cancer by 40%.
Bladder Cancer
The body is made up of millions of cells and when a mutation occurs — usually when the body produces more cells in a certain area or fails to discard old cells — a tumor is formed. This tumor could be benign (will not spread) or malignant. Malignant tumors are dangerous and are what most of the population know and fear as cancer.
The bladder is the organ in the urinary system that retains urine, a waste excreted by the kidneys. The most inner lining of the bladder is made up of Transitional Cells. These types of cells give the bladder the ability to grow as it becomes filled with fluid and shrinks as it is emptied. Nine out of ten people suffering from bladder cancer have Transitional Cell Cancer, where tumors will form among the initial lining of the bladder and cause irritation.
Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
Many symptoms of bladder cancer could be mistaken for another ailment. If you fear you may be at risk or are suffering from bladder cancer or other maladies, please contact your doctor at the next possible opportunity.
Symptoms of bladder cancer may include:
- Sudden urge to urinate
- More frequent urges to urinate
- Blood in the urine
- Feel the need to urinate with no results
- Pain during urination
Actos and Cancer
Despite Dr. Helen Ge’s best efforts to notify her employer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, about the adverse affects of pioglitazone, she states her superiors required she omit much of the incriminating results and continued to submit false information to the FDA. Her complaints regarding this action resulted in her termination with Takeda.
Recent Actos lawsuits have been filed against the pharmaceutical giant for their failure to appropriately inform patients and professionals about the truth and the FDA has since reevaluated the results supplied by Takeda after the first five years of their ten year clinical study over the affects of Actos and pioglitazone. In June 2011, the FDA released a safety announcement that pioglitazone shows an increased risk in causing or worsening bladder cancer and treatments prescribing Actos, ActoPlus Met, ActoPlus Met RX and Duetact should henceforth cease.
Similar reviews of pioglitazone have been studied by the French National Health Insurance plan and the drug has been recalled in France and Germany has ceased prescribing it for new patients.
If you believe you or someone you know has fallen victim to bladder cancer due to the affects of Actos, ActoPlus Met, Actoplus Met RX or Duetact, call The Gallagher Law Firm at (888) 222-7052. The Actos Lawyers at The Gallagher Law Firm are currently involved in litigation regarding Actos.