As more studies emerge linking the Type 2 diabetes medication, Invokana to stomach cancer, many patients are worried they may have the disease and not know it. It is important to stay vigilant about your health since big pharmaceutical companies are playing with lives.
About Invokana
Invokana was the first in a new class of drug for Type 2 diabetics. It was supposed to help people easily manage their diabetes without insulin by lowering blood sugar by causing the kidneys to remove sugar from the body via urine. This prevents blood from reabsorbing the sugar. In March 2013, the FDA approved Invokana. However, by May 2015 they were warning that Invokana may lead to devastating side effects like Invokana stomach cancer.
Invokana Stomach Cancer Signs & Symptoms
Stomach cancer mostly occurs in those over 65 years old and is more prevalent in men. Around 30,000 new cases of stomach cancer happen every year. Also, almost 11,000 die from this disease annually. Symptoms of stomach cancer often do not appear until the disease is advanced. In fact, doctors diagnosis only about 1 in 5 stomach cancers in the United States before it has spread to other areas of the body.
The signs and symptoms of stomach cancer can include:
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss
- Abdominal pain
- Discomfort in the abdomen
- Fullness in the upper abdomen after eating a small meal
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Nausea
- Vomiting, with or without blood
- Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen
- Blood in the stool
- Anemia
Stomach Cancer Stages
Doctors use the TNM staging system to determine how advanced the stomach cancer is. The doctor will see how deeply the tumor has spread into the stomach wall, if there is any spreading to the lymph nodes, or if cancer metastasized to other parts of the body. Then, he or she combines the results to determine the stage of cancer between 0 – 4.
It is important that if a doctor diagnoses you with stomach cancer and you took Invokana then a pharmaceutical company could be responsible for your injuries. Janssen Pharmaceutical, the manufacturer of Invokana knew how dangerous the medication was even during pre-approval studies. Yet, the company still put the cancer-causing type 2 diabetes medication on the market. Join us with holding them accountable for your injury.
Get Justice
Invokana manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has netted almost $1 billion in profits from Invokana in the last year alone. Meanwhile, the number of individuals injured by Invokana have begun to accumulate. They have begun to file consumer protection lawsuits against the pharmaceutical giant. Janssen has known the dangers of Invokana for years. In 2012 in early clinical trials, the cancers risks first surfaced. In fact, the FDA only granted approval with the condition that drug makers would conduct additional safety testing called post-marketing studies.
However, none of the manufacturers have added warnings about cancer. If a doctor diagnosed you with kidney or bladder cancer after taking Invokana, contact us today to speak directly with a lawyer about getting the justice you deserve.
Therefore, if a jury finds the conduct of a drug company in manufacturing and selling a drug to be highly reckless, they may award punitive damages to punish the company and deter similar conduct in the future. If you developed kidney damage after taking Invokana, please speak to us to learn more about your rights.
Also, case evaluations are free of cost and without obligation. Call us today at (888) 585-5970 or contact us online to speak with an attorney about your options. We may be able to get you the help you need.