On Sept 23rd, this website reported that a lawsuit brought by three Nevada breast cancer survivors against New Jersey pharmaceutical company,Wyeth.
It took the jury only 12 hours to return a $ 134.5 million judgment against the drug company. Each of the three claimants was awarded $7.5 million in past damages. The jury also awarded two of the women $36 million and the third $40 million for future damages.
At the heart of the case is the side effects of Wyeth’s hormone replacement drugs, Prempro and Prempro . The drugs, which are normally prescribed to treat the effects of menopause, can cause thickening of the breast which can promote to breast cancer.
This is the largest verdict yet against Wyeth who has not yet seen a judgment higher than $5 million. The company is currently facing more than 5,000 similar suits. In various articles, Wyeth spokesmen have been quoted as saying that the drugs are safe and pointed out that they are still on the market and retain their FDA approval further noting that the drugs are packaged with warning about the possible link to breast cancer.
We had predicted that this one would go to the plaintiffs based mostly on the fact that their law firm, Littlepage Booth, had already won a judgment against Wyeth in a similar case. Now that they are 2-0, we would think that the defendant is probably a little concerned.
16 responses so far ↓
1 Claudia // Oct 26, 2007 at 8:56 am
I am a person whose breast cancer was fed by the premarin I was taking. But know one even told me I could get some help.
2 cindy // Nov 1, 2007 at 11:43 am
hi my mother took Prempro and she ended up getting breast cancer ,i heard on tv that there is help now from a lay suit that she can get,i need to know more info on this case she lives in conn. i couldnt get the laywer that was handling the case on the tv fast enought can u help me please.my mom took this medicine and she got breast cancer and had to go there th epain of chemo and other med’s to help her live ..i look forward to hearing from u asap pn this matter thank u so much
cindy daviss
3 Betty Russell // Nov 8, 2007 at 6:36 pm
I took Premarin for 9.5 years. The receptors sites were only positve for estrogen. I went thur chemo and just finished 5 yrs on Tamoxifen and now on Femara. The problem that I have is the cost of health insurance when I decide to change jobs or go home to care for my grandchildren. There is no way I can afford insurance on my own. I believe that this is a problem that I share with many women. I do not blame my doctor, I blame Wyeth. They have made money off of our cancer. Is there any way to regain some what I have lost, NO!!! My life has changed forever. Thanks for this chance to vent.
Betty Russell
4 Julie // Dec 4, 2007 at 11:13 am
I also took Prempro to help with hot flashes and night sweats. Two years ago I had a friend in Az. tell me not to take it, that it had caused her breast cancer and I didn’t listen. In Aug. I had my yearly mammogram and cancer was discovered. I have just completed radiation and in a couple weeks will be put on Tamoxifin. There is no breast cancer in my family and I was totally caught offguard with this disease. It is something I will have to think about the rest of my life, which is not fair. Now I am suffering with horrible hot flashes followed by freezing cold. The drugs such as Prempro should not be allowed in the marketplace.
-Julie from Iowa
5 Rudelle Jackson // Jan 10, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I took premarin for more then six years. As soon as I started taking it my breast started to get larger. I heard so much about permarinItook myself off it and four months later I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
6 Rudelle Jackson // Jan 10, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Do Ihave a case?
7 virginia // Jan 11, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I took premarin for 22 years and they found my breast cancer in July 2004. I had to go through radiation and mammograms twice a year plus now I have to arimedex for the next two more years. Plus the pain and suffering. There is no breast cancer in my family. I get terrible hot flashes and depression from the arimedex medicine I have to take now. I did not get the phone number to call for the lawyer handling this case could some one send it to me. v.zahn@sbcglobal.net
Thank you for your help
8 Kris // Feb 17, 2008 at 11:41 am
I was diaganosed with a 7 cm tumor in my right breast in March 2007. I was on the drug, Estrace. My primary physician told me to take one in the morning and one at night, because the regular dosage was not working. No one told me this could cause breast cancer. My cancer was (estrogen postive) which proves it was cause by HRT. Can I get help. I live in Alabama. I am researching any class action lawsuits for this drug in my state.
9 Earlene Cornelius // Feb 24, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I”m a breast cancer survivor that was taking premarin for hormone replacement. Prior to having breast cancer I had a mammogram, and everything was okay. Four months later I had breast cancer. I had chemo and radiation, the cancer was in my left breast and had spreaded to two of my lymph nodes under my left arm pit. Therefore, all of the lymphs were removed from under my left. At the present I suffer from chronic lympdemia. On February 2007 I was put on FMLA and have not worked since. I would like any info that you may have. I’m the only person in my family that have had breast cancer.
10 Kolleen Hill // Feb 26, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I have been on HRT since the mid 80’s and was diaganosed wth Breast Cancer in 2003. I had radiation for 7 weeks. I have been on several different HRT, Premarine, Estrace, Estatest. Do I have a case?
11 maary knol // Mar 4, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I developed malignent breast cancer after taking HRT drugs Prempro, Premarin and other HRT drugs for severe menopausal symptoms. I underwent a lumpectomy, lympnode surgery, chemo and radiation. I had terrible problems with my blood counts and severe burns from the radiation. I also had to take tomoxifin for five years to help with a recurrance of the breast cancer. It has been 9 yrs. but I think I may have cancer again but I’m paralized to go ad find out. I worry about my daughter and my son developing cancer and I never want to see anyone go through being told they have cancer and the treatments that are involved when it can be prevented. HRT should be taken off the market.
12 Joyce Perkins // Apr 29, 2008 at 6:19 pm
In 1996 I had a hysterectomy and was prescribed Premarin, which I took through 2000. In 2007 I was diagnosised with Breast Cancer. The tumor was estrogen receptor positive. I was told there is a radio advertisement for a class action lawsuit looking for women with my medical history who lived in NJ. I lived in NJ from 1964-1997. Please advise. Sincerely, Joyce Perkins
13 Billie // May 2, 2008 at 4:38 pm
My family member’s story is eerily familar to the others, i.e. took Premerain & was diagosed with estrogen-positive breat cancer within a year. Please inform as to how to proceed with regard to filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
14 Helen Block // May 31, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Took Premarin for probably 14 years - recently diagnosed with breast cancer; mastectomy. None ever in my family — guess what caused it!
15 Lequrica Gaskins // Jun 11, 2008 at 2:41 pm
The Insurance Company who will not pay…
It was last year in August (2007). I was on my way to a lunch meeting when I received the unwanted phone call from my sister who confirmed that the lump in her breast was indeed cancerous. Ramona Pittmon is my 32 years old sister who is a single parent of 2 small boys. Some years ago, when we were younger, our mother was tragedy killed in a car wreck by an individual who failed to stop at a stop sign. This episode along was an unthinkable- devastating experience to have to endure. Now here comes another situation with an equivalent amount of devastation. When you hear cancer, you always tend to think of the worst end of the spectrum especially since there is not a cure for this mean illness.
The doctor told my sister that she would need to start treatments immediately. Ramona was by no means rich. In fact, she resided in a housing project where she lived from pay check to pay check. But she was making it and she thought she would be stable financially since she had insurance. She was a single parent who got no financially support from the father of the boys. She was enrolled in school with the vision to be a nurse & change her immediate environment for the betterment of her children & herself.
Ramona knew she would miss days from work during her medial treatment. It was a good thing that she had insurance with her current employer, The City of Douglas. She had been employed with this agency for at least 7 years. During this tenure of employment, Ramona had health insurance coverage through. She thought she was blessed because earlier during the year in April she had elected & was approved to get accidental, sick & short term disability insurance during open enrollment. At this time, she was not aware of any illness & had not been diagnosed of having any kind of illness-definitely not cancer. The insurance company American Heritage seemed to offer these great benefits. Since Ramon was also signed up for regular health insurance, we were so surprise when America Heritage denied to pay any benefits to Ramon for her cancer treatment or doctor visits. Short term disability was also denied. The doctors were even surprised. They even tried to call the insurance company on Ramona’s behalf explaining that America Heritage denial of a pre existing claim was not a accurate determination for not paying her due benefits. In fact there is no medical documentation that supports this reason for denial. NONE….But the claim was still denied.
In November Ramona was hospitalized to have her breast removed as the cancer appeared to be spreading and not responding to the treatment. She was worried because the insurance company did not keep their end of the bargain. She was already “just making it” when she was working. And she knew not having the short & long term benefits would make it even worst. Ramona has lost all of her hair & and a lot of her strength. But she said she had to go back to work or she would have nothing. Last week, Ramona’s pay check was $9.00. She had to take off for more treatments.
American Heritage insurance company continues to take the drafted payments from Ramona check. They have been doing so since the policy was approved. Can you believe the nerve of them?
I am writing because I want American Heritage to pay the due benefits & compensation.
Please help- Lequrica Gaskins on behalf of Ramona Pittmon.
16 Marcia Nilles // Jun 27, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I have read all the comments and I to have had Breast cancer because of Premarin. I wish I could find a law firm that would represent me. The after causes can be as great as the breast cancer.
Leave a Comment