Pancreatic cancer complications may include jaundice, weight loss, malnutrition, severe abdominal pain, metastasis of the cancer to other organs, and death. Unfortunately, these complications are often very severe and life-threatening.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What is the problem with Byetta?
Byetta is an anti-diabetes medication that mimics the effect of a hormone called GLP-1. This hormone tells cells in the pancreas to produce more insulin, which helps a diabetic person control high blood-sugar levels.
Unfortunately, Byetta can also have an inflammatory effect on the pancreas, which is why the label already carries warnings about the potential risk of pancreatitis. This disease is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer. In fact, according to a 2011 study published in Gastroenterology, the FDA has received 81 reports of pancreatic cancer in patients taking Byetta.
Pancreatic Cancer Complications
Pancreatic cancer is associated with the following life-threatening complications:
- Jaundice: This occurs when a pancreatic tumor blocks a bile duct from the liver, which causes waste products to build up in the bloodstream. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin and eyes, pale or clay-colored stools, and dark-colored urine.
- Abdominal pain: Severe pain can occur when abdominal nerves are compressed by an inflamed, swollen pancreas or a growing tumor in the abdomen.
- Bowel obstruction: The pancreas is located near the intestines, and a growing tumor may obstruct the small intestine.
- Diabetes: Normally, the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which helps the body metabolize sugars in food. Diabetes and high blood-sugar problems can occur if the pancreas stops producing insulin.
- Weight loss, malnutrition: Normally, the pancreas produces digestive enzymes that help break down food. Without these enzymes, the body may not be able to absorb nutrients from food. Cancer drugs can also cause nausea and vomiting, which can contribute to weight loss and malnutrition.
- Infections: Pancreatic tissue damage and death (necrosis) can significantly increase the risk of bacterial infection and sepsis.
- Cancer in other tissues (metastasis): The pancreas is close to the stomach, spleen, lungs, and intestines, and cancer may spread to these organs.
- Death: The mortality rate for pancreatic cancer is very high because this cancer is rarely diagnosed until it has already metastasized. Less than 5% of people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive more than 5 years.
More Information
- Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
- Causes of pancreatic cancer
- Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
- Treatment for pancreatic cancer
Do I have a Byetta Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Byetta injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
