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Nov 23, 2009 10:15 pm US/Central
N. Texas Women Say 'Prempro' Caused Their Cancer
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Two separate verdicts in Philadelphia Monday have given hope to hundreds of thousands of women in Texas. One woman received $75 million, while another was awarded $28 million in punitive damages.
In each case, the jury was convinced that a link exists between breast cancer and the
hormone-replacement drug Prempro.
Brenda Graves of Mesquite started taking Prempro in the mid 1090s for menopause symptoms. "My body is scarred. I will never be normal again," she claims.
Today, Graves says taking medication was a big mistake. "I was very angry that I was put on a medication that I thought was for my health, but it caused breast cancer."
Since being diagnosed in 2002, the 62-year-old has undergone a dozen procedures, including a mastectomy.
Graves blames her cancer on Prempro and she's not alone.
Attorney Alexandra Boone and her Dallas law firm represent 730 women nationwide, including 43 in North Texas, who have filed suit because of Prempro.
The women are suing Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; the makers of the drug.
"They essentially stuck their head in the sand and refused to adequately study the drug," claims Boone. "As a result, hundreds of thousands of women unnecessarily got breast cancer."
Graves says Monday's verdicts in Philadelphia provide hope that her battle against the drug maker will payoff for other women in the future. "Companies that push medication profit rather than for the care of the patient should be held accountable," said Graves.
The world's largest drug maker, Pfizer, recently purchased Wyeth. A spokesman for Pfizer says the company will challenge both decisions in court.
Prempro is still available on the market.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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