Two new studies examining the potential side effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) were published recently, and while one failed to find a connection between testosterone drugs and prostate cancer, the other linked low-T drugs to an increased risk of colon cancer among men. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with colon cancer or another serious medical problem, and you believe side effects of testosterone therapy to be the cause, our consumer advocates at the Consumer Justice Foundation can help. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by potentially dangerous medications, and can help put you in touch with a skilled attorney who has experience handling TRT injury claims.
In the TRT study, published last month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of Missouri found that men who undergo testosterone replacement therapy may face an increased risk of developing colon cancer, a factor that may explain why the risk of colon cancer is higher in men than in women. “Previously, scientists believed that female hormones may have lent some sort of protection against tumor susceptibility,” said lead researcher and assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology, James Amos-Landgraf. “However, […] it appears that male hormones may actually contribute to colon tumor growth rather than female hormones being protective.”
Although researchers involved in the Proceedings study were looking at natural levels of testosterone in their study, their findings have raised serious concerns about what effects adding testosterone through the use of low-T medications may have on colon cancer rates among men. And colon cancer isn’t the only health risk men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy may face. According to a growing body of evidence, popular testosterone drugs like Axiron, Testim and AndroGel may put users at risk of other serious side effects, including heart attack, stroke, blood clots and sudden death.
According to the findings of two separate studies published in November 2013 and January 2014, side effects of low-T drugs may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events among young and older men with certain pre-existing heart conditions, and among men over the age of 65, regardless of any prior health concerns. Following the release of these studies, the FDA announced its decision to evaluate the potential health risks associated with testosterone therapy, and an advisory panel for the agency recommended at that time that use of TRT drugs be limited to men with a true medical need, urging physicians to avoid prescribing the medications for so-called “lifestyle” uses.
In recent months, a growing number of AndroGel and other testosterone drug lawsuits have been filed in courts across the country, on behalf of former users of the medications who have suffered heart attacks, strokes and other serious medical conditions. The testosterone therapy lawsuits all involve similar allegations that the makers of TRT drugs failed to provide consumers and doctors with adequate warnings about the risk of complications linked to the products. If you believe you have been harmed by side effects of AndroGel or another potentially dangerous low-T drug, contact a knowledgeable product liability lawyer today to explore your possible compensation options.
[box type=”note” align=”aligncenter” ]Source: http://www.pnas.org/content/111/46/16514[/box]
