Propecia Breast Cancer

The long-term use of Propecia has recently been linked to male breast cancer in a large number of patients. Propecia (finasteride) is prescribed to millions of men to prevent hair loss, but like any prescription medication, it can cause side effects. Some are mild and short-term, but others, like male breast cancer, are extremely serious and may even be permanent.

Free Propecia Breast Cancer Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with male breast cancer after using Propecia for a prolonged period of time, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.

Propecia Male Breast Cancer

Male breast cancer is a rare but serious disease, accounting for less than one percent of all breast cancer cases. Conditions that result in relative estrogen excess or lack of androgen are associated with an increased risk of male breast cancer. Although breast cancer in men occurs far less frequently than in women, the diseases share many of the same characteristics. Cancer begins when normal cells in the breast begin to grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant, meaning the mass is cancerous and can spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Breast cancer is less common in men because their breast duct cells are less developed than those of women and because their breast cells are not constantly exposed to the growth promoting effects of female hormones.

According to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI), the risk of male breast cancer may be affected by the prolonged use of Propecia:

Finasteride shrinks androgen-dependent prostate tissue by inhibiting steroid 5α-reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, inhibition of DHT production alters the estrogen-to-androgen ratio and may also increase the risk of gynecomastia and male breast cancer. Reports to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from June 1992 through February 1995 showed that gynecomastia had been observed in 214 men receiving finasteride therapy. Two of these men were subsequently found to have invasive ductal breast carcinoma. There was also a higher incidence of gynecomastia in men participating in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. The rate of gynecomastia was 426 (4.5%) of 9423 subjects randomly assigned to the finasteride arm compared with 261 (2.8%) of 9457 subjects randomly assigned to the placebo arm. There was one case of breast cancer in each arm of the trial.

If you notice any persistent changes to your breasts, contact your healthcare provider immediately. The signs to watch out for include:

• a lump felt in the breast
• nipple pain
• an inverted nipple
• nipple discharge (clear or bloody)
• sores on the nipple and areola (the small ring of color around the center of the nipple)
• enlarged lymph nodes under the arm

Propecia Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is a swelling of male breast tissue caused by an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone. The condition can affect one or both breasts, sometimes unevenly. Signs and symptoms of Propecia-induced gynecomastia may include:

• swollen breast gland tissue
• breast tenderness
• pain
• nipple discharge in one or both breasts

Gynecomastia is a chronic condition that typically requires surgery (which is often botched) to correct. It can leave deep ‘X’-shaped incision scars where the nipple one resided. Once gynecomastia manifests itself, it can be treated with aromatase inhibitors but is almost never completely eradicated, except with potentially dangerous cosmetic surgical procedures.

Sadly, gynecomastia wasn’t even listed in the physician’s desk reference (PDR) as a possible side effect of Propecia until several years after it was introduced to the market. Even sadder is the fact that the condition can be easily prevented with the concurrent use of aromatase inhibitors, but they are never recommended. Your doctor may tell you that Propecia is a safe drug with few reversible side effects, but remember that he or she has only been spoon fed information from Merck’s pharmaceutical sales reps, who never say anything to compromise drug sales.

Side Effects of Propecia

In addition to the risk of male breast cancer and gynecomastia, a significant number of men reported Propecia side effects including:

• less desire for sex
• difficulty in achieving an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• decrease in the amount of semen
• problems with ejaculation
• impotence
• testicular pain
• prostate cancer

If you are taking Propecia

If you are currently taking Propecia, contact your healthcare professional immediately if you notice any breast lumps, pain, nipple discharge, or other breast changes. These may be signs of Propecia male breast cancer. Additionally, seek immediate medical attention if you experience unexplained hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat.

It is important to understand that Propecia is designed for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in men only, and should not be taken by women or children. If a pregnant woman absorbs finasteride, it may cause abnormalities in the baby’s sex organs. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with Propecia, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Do I have a Propecia Breast Cancer Lawsuit?

The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Propecia breast cancer lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Propecia breast cancer cases in all 50 states.