Tasigna Atherosclerosis Lawsuit News

Cancer Doctors Prescribing Tasigna Should Be Trained Like Heart Specialists

The adverse side effects of Tasigna force oncologists to test their patients for heart and blood abnormalities to avoid heart disease and at times sudden death

Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - Oncologists are paid to diagnose and treat cancer and suspected heart disease is the last thing on their minds. These cancer specialists literally live for "curing" cancer which is a euphemism for forcing the disease into remission. Doctors have, until recently routinely given their cancer patients that suffer from acute PH+myeloid leukemia the anti-cancer drug Tasigna. Tasigna is effective in treating cancer however doctors are now forced to consider the drug's proven deadly side effect of causing atherosclerosis and peripheral artery disease, before, during and after prescribing Tasigna. In other words, cancer doctors are now operating more like heart specialists before treating their specialty disease. Tasigna atherosclerosis lawsuits filed with national Tasigna attorneys offer a free no obligation Tasigna case review.

For example, oncologists are required to consider the Tasigna black box warning and perform certain heart and blood tests on patients before initiating Tasigna treatments. The reason is that sudden deaths have occurred from a condition called QT prolongation, or irregular heart rhythms that are caused by Tasigna's toxicity, the same toxicity that makes the drug so effective in killing cancer cells. Cancer doctors are prohibiting from prescribing Tasigna if their patient's show irregularities in their electrocardiogram ECG that they are required to take before beginning Tasigna treatments. The heart tests are required to see if an irregular heartbeat exists, and also establish a baseline to monitor an adverse heart reaction to Tasigna. Cancer doctors must then have their Tasigna patients undergo a second ECG seven days after their first Tasigna dosage and every month thereafter if the tests prove no change. Any change to the ECG and the doctor must take the patient off Tasigna.

Cancer doctors should also monitor their Tasigna patients on an ongoing basis for signs that they might be developing atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the blood's major passageways. Tasigna toxicity has caused the inner arterial walls to chafe causing the normal fatty portion of the blood which ordinarily flows freely, to stick and accumulate to the sides of the inner arterial walls which decreases the blood flow and high blood pressure leading to heart attacks. Novartis, maker of Tasigna has been aware of this fact and warned health officials in Canada in April of 2013 of the risks. In an article entitled: "Updated information regarding the possible risk of developing atherosclerosis-related conditions with the use of TASIGNA* (nilotinib)," Novartis warned Health Canada that "Cases of atherosclerosis-related conditions have been reported during clinical trials and post-marketing experience with the use of TASIGNA." Novartis also warned Canadian cancer doctors what they should have told doctors in the United States as well that "During treatment with TASIGNA*, healthcare professionals will check for signs of atherosclerosis. Healthcare professional will also check cholesterol and blood sugar levels before starting treatment and periodically thereafter."

If you or a loved one has undergone cancer treatments using Tasigna you should immediately contact your health professional to test for signs of developing heart or blood abnormalities that if left untreated could result in sudden death.

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