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If you took Actos® (pioglitazone) for a year or longer and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, call the Actos bladder cancer lawyers with our firm at 1-800-632-1404. Our firm is currently reviewing cases involving persons who took Actos® for control of blood sugar.

WHAT IS BLADDER CANCER?

One of the alleged side effects of Actos is bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is the second most common kind of urinary tract cancer. It is usually detected because of blood in the urine. This underscores the importance of obtaining a full evaluation by a urologist whenever there is bleeding in the urinary tract. There are a number of risk factors for developing bladder cancer. These include cigarette smoking, side effects of certain drugs like Actos and occupational exposure to certain chemicals and toxins. Unlike many other types of cancer, bladder cancer has a great tendency to recur without spreading to other organs. For this reason, careful surveillance is necessary.

Urinary System and the bladder

The urinary system consists of the two kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. The urinary system includes those organs primarily responsible for cleaning and filtering excess fluid and waste material from the blood, including the kidneys, ureter, bladder and urethra. Just about the time you start adjusting to the fact that you have bladder cancer, you’re faced with another challenge: dealing with your insurance company. If you’re lucky, (1) you have insurance, (2) it’s adequate, and (3) it covers whatever therapy you choose to have. But even if you have a good health care policy, the treatments for bladder cancer can induce sticker shock.

Superficial and Invasive

A simple way of looking at bladder cancer is by dividing it into superficial bladder cancer and invasive bladder cancer, depending on whether or not the tumor has invaded the lamina propria, a thin membrane that separates the mucosa of the bladder from the muscle layer. Superficial bladder tumors, which have not penetrated the muscle layer, have a much better prognosis and are usually treated by surgically removing the tumor and a bit of surrounding tissue or by intavesical chemotherapy (putting medicines directly into the bladder with a catheter). Invasive tumors are usually treated by surgical removal of the entire bladder.

Symptoms

The symptom most commonly associated with cancer of the bladder is the presence of blood in the urine. Although this symptom is typically induced by other benign conditions such as urinary tract infection, bloody urine always warrants investigation, as does any pain experienced during urination. Bladder cancer also infrequently cause other nonspecific symptoms such as weight loss, decreased appetite, and unexplained fevers. Occasionally, kidney cancer causes diffuse pain in the region of the lower back.

BACKGROUND

Since 1999, Actos® has been prescribed as part of an overall treatment regimen for controlling blood sugar in diabetic patients. In recent years it has also been prescribed as a diabetes preventative in those who show the early signs of the disease. In September 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began a safety review of Actos® when new data was discovered that suggested a link to increased risk of bladder cancer.

The risk of bladder cancer is MUCH HIGHER for those that take the drug at higher cumulative doses and for longer periods of time. This increased risk is also greater in men than in women. The FDA has issued a warning of the elevated risk to patients who have been taking Actos®, but added that patients should not stop taking Actos® unless instructed to do so by their physicians. The active ingredient in Actos® is also contained in other drugs, namely Actoplus Met®, Actoplus Met XR®, and Duetact®.

Although Actos® continues to remain on the shelves of drug stores in the United States, the drug is under a long-term observational study by the FDA. France suspended the drug and Germany recommended not to start new patients on the drug due to mounting concerns for their citizens.

RISK OF BLADDER CANCER

In June of this year the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the popular diabetes drug Actos(pioglitazone). The FDA had found that the use of pioglitazone for more than a year may be linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

SYMPTOMS OF BLADDER CANCER

Common symptoms of Actos®-related bladder cancer may include:

• ■Blood in urine, sometimes creating a change in urine color
• ■Frequent urination
• ■Painful urination
• ■Urinary tract infection

If you or a loved one developed bladder cancer during or after taking Actos®, Actoplus Met®, Actoplus Met XR®, or Duetact®, call us now at 1-800-632-1404 or SUBMIT A SHORT CASE FORM HERE for a free, no obligation, evaluation of your case.

HERE TO HELP.

If you are interested in claims for Actos, an Actos lawsuit, information on an Actos class action, or want to speak with anActos attorney, please call us today at 1-800-632-1404.

Members of our firm are attorneys currently representing clients who have taken several prescription drugs and claim injuries associated with those drugs, including Topamax®, Wellbutrin®, Fosamax®, and Actos®. Members of the firm also represent clients across the globe pertaining to medical device failures, including the Advanced Bionics HiRes90k® cochlear implant , the TVM / TVT transvaginal mesh – sling and the DePuy hip implant. For a free case evaluation, please contact:

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